This useful calendar is a powerful tool for people looking to provide Social Emotional care and support to colleagues in a way that's effective and organized ... and doesn't make giving the support a chore!
Why Co-Care?
A career working with others experiencing trauma is hard on the body, mind and spirit. We say it's important to take care of ourselves so we can take care of one another, but how often do we really practice it? Not as often as we'd like, right? To fill our minds, we have regular staff meetings and professional learning. To fill our spirits, we have regular religious or spiritual practices. Some regularly go to the gym or do some form of exercise. So why not make a commitment to taking care of our whole selves, including emotional supports? Why not make a care-mitment to ourselves and each other?
Rarely will we take the time for regular self-care. In fact, we are more likely to help a colleague take care of themselves before we take care of ourselves. So let’s leverage that truth and make a commitment to co-care. When our organization is practicing co-care, stronger connections are being forged and resilience is being built.
A great way to start moving forward in this area is to use this Co-Care Calendar for yourself -- or even better, with your colleagues or a whole staff! It can be easier (and more fun) to start better habits when we see those around us making the time for self-care. We’re almost all better at helping others remember to take healthier steps than we are at getting ourselves doing it, so partner up!
How Does It Work?
Visit with your colleagues about the effects of stress and the benefits of self-care and co-care. Share with them examples of self-care and co-care from the suggestions on this calendar. Talk about ways you each might enjoy some self-care time. Take additional ideas that were shared and build your Co-Care Calendar using staff input.
Each week, via encouraging emails and mid-week reminders, share the week's challenge options with colleagues. Encourage them to make the time to participate, especially when they feel they don't have time. Remind them how important it is to take a guilt-free moment for themselves. Remember, none of us have the time. We must find ways to make the time.
A career working with others experiencing trauma is hard on the body, mind and spirit. We say it's important to take care of ourselves so we can take care of one another, but how often do we really practice it? Not as often as we'd like, right? To fill our minds, we have regular staff meetings and professional learning. To fill our spirits, we have regular religious or spiritual practices. Some regularly go to the gym or do some form of exercise. So why not make a commitment to taking care of our whole selves, including emotional supports? Why not make a care-mitment to ourselves and each other?
Rarely will we take the time for regular self-care. In fact, we are more likely to help a colleague take care of themselves before we take care of ourselves. So let’s leverage that truth and make a commitment to co-care. When our organization is practicing co-care, stronger connections are being forged and resilience is being built.
A great way to start moving forward in this area is to use this Co-Care Calendar for yourself -- or even better, with your colleagues or a whole staff! It can be easier (and more fun) to start better habits when we see those around us making the time for self-care. We’re almost all better at helping others remember to take healthier steps than we are at getting ourselves doing it, so partner up!
How Does It Work?
Visit with your colleagues about the effects of stress and the benefits of self-care and co-care. Share with them examples of self-care and co-care from the suggestions on this calendar. Talk about ways you each might enjoy some self-care time. Take additional ideas that were shared and build your Co-Care Calendar using staff input.
Each week, via encouraging emails and mid-week reminders, share the week's challenge options with colleagues. Encourage them to make the time to participate, especially when they feel they don't have time. Remind them how important it is to take a guilt-free moment for themselves. Remember, none of us have the time. We must find ways to make the time.