One way to think of self-care is like fuel in the tank of a car. Most of us don’t keep our tanks filled to the top, and some of us are experts at working out how many more miles we still have left once the needle has gone into the red! But no-one wants to run out of fuel. so it’s a good idea to fill up before our tank runs dry and to fix it if it develops a leak.
Emergency service staff, are great at helping others but can find the idea of self-care unfamiliar or uncomfortable. Try to think of it as basic maintenance. Self-care isn't selfish, it’s what keeps us going despite the challenges life throws at us and if we look after ourselves we’ll be better able to help others.
Listen to Gary and Andy talking about what keeps them well.
We will all make some thinking errors at some times; it's part of being human. However it helps to listen in to the way we talk to ourselves and to check that we're being both fair and kind. Being able to do this gives us cognitive flexibility and that helps with self-compassion. A good rule of thumb is to listen in to your thoughts and ask whether you would say these things to someone you care about. Be your own best friend.
If you'd like to find out more about this, have a look at the Living Life to the Full and Headfit websites at the bottom of this page.