Self Care

Social and Emotional Health > Self Care

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the personal and professional lives of many individuals, including school nurses. Many of us have faced challenges that have elicited taxing emotions including fear, anxiety, stress, sadness, and grief. These emotions may have an effect on your mental and physical wellbeing. Taking care of yourself is important so that you can help others in your life navigate through this time.

The role of the school nurse is to be a role model and educate about the importance of self-care for yourself and school staff to provide compassionate and empathetic interactions with other staff, students, and families.

Key Considerations :

Supporting physical health wellbeing:

Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet
Keep hydrated, drink plenty of water
Implement a regular exercise routine
Get adequate sleep
Spend time outside enjoying nature (e.g. walking or biking in a park)
Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate daily
Avoid risky behaviors such as abusing alcohol, tobacco, substance use or excessive gambling
Follow social distancing guidelines and public health recommendations
Continue with routine preventative care as recommended by your healthcare provider (e.g. preventive screenings, vaccinations (including COVID-19 vaccination))

Supporting mental health wellbeing:

Limit watching TV, reading and listening to news stories
Set and maintain a routine at home
Engage in activities that help you relax (e.g. listening to music, reading a book, walking, exercising, laughter)
Focus on positive thoughts and things to be grateful for today
Look for ways to help your community (e.g. donations, checking on older people in your community)
Use technology to connect with friends and family regularly (e.g. phone calls or video chats)
Focus on things you can control
Maintain relationships with family, friends, and social support systems such as faith communities