In the previous topics you learnt about self-care and setting boundaries.
Setting boundaries and taking actions of self-care need to be deliberate, they are often not things that ‘just happen’.
Below you will see a real-life scenario and the importance of self-care and setting boundaries.
Case study: Importance of setting time aside to self-care and setting boundaries
Emily is a young and enthusiastic, newly graduated Primary School teacher living in Perth, Western Australia. Since graduating, Emily has continued her casual weekend work as a Swimming instructor. She also works three days a week at a charitable organisation. The remaining two days of the week Emily teachers at local Primary Schools as a relief teacher. It is very common for Emily to work seven days a week. Emily is very much aware of self-care and the risk she has both physically and mentally if she doesn’t set time aside to take care of herself. Emily sets time aside almost every day to swim laps at her local swimming pool. Swimming laps is a way. Emily ‘switches of’ and has time to think, relax and exercise. On the weekends, Emily also ensures that when she comes home from swim teaching, she switches off by turning of her mobile phone and taking her dog for a walk, spending time at the beach or spending time with her family or friends.
Setting boundaries is a concept Emily is continuing to work on. Working seven days a week means Emily is often left with little time to wind down and relax. Often, Emily will want to simply stay home and have a ‘day to herself’ but will be called into work at a school in the early hours of the morning. 9 times out of ten Emily will say yes. Saying ‘no’ is something Emily struggles with and is continuing to work on.
Having an idea of things, you enjoy is a great place to start towards taking action of self-care. Below is an example of some ideas ‘Emily’ came up with when first taking steps towards better self-care.
| Physical self-care | Emotional self-care | Social self-care | Spiritual self-care |
| -Swimming laps -Walking dog -Eating healthy and planning meals in advance -Turning technology of while in bed | -Keeping ‘work thoughts’ at work -Watching a funny movie -Keeping up to date with local charity- RSPCA, Starlight | -Attending family dinners every night -Seeing friends face to face at least once a week -Turning of social media | – Sunrise beach swims -Taking dog for walk through local bushland-no music |
I
Being a Community Champion, you may experience times when you don’t feel up to the challenge and just want some time to yourself- that is absolutely ok! Self-care isn’t selfish. We all know how important it is to eat healthy, self-care is exactly the same, its about looking after ourselves.
