People sometimes think of self-care as something you do for yourself at the end of the workday. But self-care is an important skill you should employ, especially if you work in stressful environments. It is imperative to build a toolkit of strategies you can use when stress levels get high on the job.

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has put together this fantastic resource to help juvenile justice professionals care for themselves, but we think this information is valuable for anyone caring for others, whether in a personal or professional way!

Your ability to care for others for a sustained amount of time requires you to care for your own wellbeing, strengthen your resilience, and find ways to recharge your batteries so you can be effective in your roles. Doing these things is equivalent to putting your oxygen mask on first before helping others with theirs. In order to effectively help others, you must take care of yourself first.