Here are the top self care ideas from a great group of 60 social workers, mental health professionals and family caregiver supporters at today's Compassion Fatigue workshop.
1. Working out at the gym
2. Running with the dog
3. Cooking tasty, healthy food
4. Aromatherapy
5. Small gestures of giving to others
6. Doing nothing
7. Silence
8. Yoga
9. Singing
10. Massage
11. Listening to, and playing music
12. Watching a feel-good movie
13. Morning meditation
14. A bath with candles and music
15. Being in a library
16. Buy yourself flowers
17. Window shopping
18. Gardening
19. Playing
20. Spending time outdoors
21. Journal writing
22. Reading a good book
23. Accepting and honouring your feelings
24. Knitting and crocheting
25. Enjoying your first sip of morning coffee or tea
26. Chatting with a friend
27. Cleaning house
28. Baking
29. Aerobic exercise - biking, cross country skiing, swimming
30. Staying calm
31. Sitting by the fire
32. Living with intention
33. Good dental hygiene
34. Regular health checkups
35. Gratitude journal
36. Last thing at night - identifying the nicest thing that's happened that day
37. Leaving the computer off
38. Avoiding the newscast
39. Laughing and having fun
40. Inspirational reading
41. Being mindfully aware/in the moment
42. Regular meditation
43. Connect with your spiritual side
44. Dancing
45. Craft work
46. Create a support network
47. Eat cookies
48. Prayer
49. Storytelling
50. Travelling and planning it before hand
51. Purposefully doing superficial things
52. Stand-up comedy, sharing a joke
53. Quilting
54. Grouse Grind
55. Candlelight
56. Cooking when not under pressure
57. Being alone and contemplative
58. Going for a sauna
59. Pedicure/manicure
60. Sex
61. Having a facial
62. Debriefing with colleagues
63. Validating yourself to yourself and to colleagues
64. Attending workshops
65. Staying in your dressing gown all am when on a day off
66. Dancing in my kitchen
67. Buying only good wine
68. Long walks on the beach
69. Hikes in the woods with the dog
70. Making photocards
71. Kayaking and sailing
72. Playing a musical instrument
73. Landscaping
74. Sleeping in
75. Pet's unconditional love
76. Driving and road trips
77. Walking to and from work
78. Sitting in a sidewalk cafe, drinking a latte
79. Pausing to breathe
80. Time with your grandchildren
81. Stomping in rain puddles or piles of leaves
82. Validating your colleagues
83. Walking in the grass in bare feet
84. Looking at clouds
85. Letting the warmth of the sun soak into your back or your face
86. Eating chocolate