Are You Doing Enough Self Care?

Last week, I wrote about how personally draining can be the work of nonprofit and civic leadership. Prioritizing your mental and physical health doesn’t just benefit you personally but enables you to better serve your community.

So, I asked for examples of how YOU practice self care, and you were generous with your replies:

• Gardening
• Working on getting more rest at night
• I take my time on weekends by doing crafts
• Daily quiet time
• Exercise
• I sing in two church choirs
• Working in my yard and walking
• Run, ride, walk with my dog, & non-work reading breaks
• Make sure I get enough sleep each night
• Exercise, meditation, time management
• I seek solitude, alone time, rest my mind
• Thinking about the mission
• Eat properly, relax, mediate, and exercise
• I take out of town road trips whenever possible
• Exercise and alcohol
• Husband, grandchildren, walking and watching sports
• Spend time with my church friends and family
• Weekly sessions with my therapist
• Walking
• Unplug
• Quality rest
• Prayer/Meditation
• Gym/water/silence
• Play some smooth jazz and read something
• Daily exercise

That’s not intended to be a comprehensive list. But it should be enough to make you ask this essential question:  Are you really doing ENOUGH to take care of yourself?

Don’t just ask yourself. The truth is that you’re incapable of taking a full accounting of all the ways that stress is affecting you. So, make this a “courageous conversation” with your loved ones and most trusted partners.

THANK YOU for your service as a community leader and, please, don’t wait to take care of yourself.