1. Self-Care: The Most Important Thing You Rarely Do
Katie Langer, MSW

2. Objectives: Understand the need for self-care in a high stress field
Identify four areas of self-care
Recognize your own self-love language
Develop an effective self-care plan

4. If it’s so stressful, why do you do it?
“Social Workers are especially prone to compassion fatigue,
not only because of the nature of our work,
but often because our own natures
have inspired us to enter this precise field.”
SaraKay Smullens

5. Now what?

6. Step 1: Identify your stressors
“Perhaps the best way to begin is by making
a mental list of the sorts of things we find stressful.”
Robert M. Sapolsky,
Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers

7. Do YOU manage stress or does STRESS manage you?

8. Eustress = Good Stress

9. Step 2: Evaluate Your Coping Skills
Negative
Positive

10. Step 2: Evaluate Your Coping Skills
Negative
Positive
Too Much Chocolate
Overworking
Drinking/Substance Abuse
Overthinking
Anger/Aggression
Avoidance/Withdrawal
Irritability
Excessive Sleeping
Under/Over Eating
A Little Chocolate
Hobby
Exercising
Positive quotes
Prayer/Meditation
Deep breathing
Therapy
Time with Family/Friends
Bubble bath

12. How do you know when your coping skills aren’t working?
Physical Indicators
Emotional Indicators
Spiritual Indicators
Professional Indicators

13. Positive Coping Skills for Each Area of Self-Care
Physical
Hydrate, Meals/Snacks, Move, Engage your five senses
Emotional
Unclutter your brain, Start a positivity file, Connect, Play
Spiritual
Pray, Connect to higher power, Read inspirational literature
Professional
Change your routine, Organizational system, Meaningful work

15. The Five Love Languages©
Developed by Gary Chapman
What is your heart language?
Your personal love language helps you understand how your own personal preference for receiving love.
It ensures you are filling your
love tank with things that
fuel and refresh you.

16. Show Yourself Love in Your Language
Words of Affirmation
Positive quotes, Inspirational books, Pep talks
Quality Time
Quiet day at the beach, Sleeping in, Spending the day with family
Gifts
Buying yourself a sweet treat, splurging on a something “unnecessary”
Acts of Service
Getting your house cleaned, Going out to dinner
Physical Touch
Massage, Pedicure, New lotion

17. Step 3: Identify Your Self-Care Fuel
Drink soda every day to keep energized.
Drink at least 64 ounces
of water every day.
Journaling
Words of Affirmation on
bathroom mirror.
Reading uplifting
books.
Memorize encouraging
Scriptures.
Trying to do everything
myself.
Learn to say no or
vocalize needs.

18. Self-Care isn’t Selfish.

19. Step 4: Self-Care For Crisis Moments
Pushing through
when I’m already
frustrated.
Change of scenery—
take a walk.
Positivity file of
successful cases.
Talking down to
myself.
Avoid Negative
Nancy’s cubicle.
Call Mom to chat.

20. Step 5: Evaluate Your Plan Regularly

21. YOU
ARE IMPORTANT

22. References
Bowlen, R. (2017, March 21). 10 Tips on Self-Care for Social Workers. Retrieved March 7, 2019, from
Chapman, G. D. (2009). The five love languages. Chicago, IL: Northfield Pub
Homewood Health: Self-Care Starter Kit. (n.d.). Retrieved March 7, 2019, from
Managing Stress as a Child Welfare Caseworker. (n.d.). Retrieved March 10, 2019, from Readiness/Section 2/Managing Stress as a Child Welfare Caseworker.pdf
Monk, L. (2011, January). Self-Care for Social Workers. Retrieved March 7, 2019, from
Moody, & LaCroix Design Co. (n.d.). The 5 Love Languages Singles Edition. Retrieved June 6, 2019, from
Scott, E. (2019, April 20). When Stress Can Actually Be Good for You. Retrieved July 3, 2019, from
Smullens, S. (2012, Fall). What I Wish I Had Known: Burnout and Self-Care in Our Social Work Profession. Retrieved March 7, 2019, from