As inevitable as it may be, change is often associated with times filled with anxiety and stress. Life’s most stressful events, for better and worse, share a common theme: change. Death, divorce, moving, illness and job loss each involve massive disruptions in routine that challenge our emotional resilience, physical stamina, and stress capacity.

When the unexpected or devastating occur, well-laid plans often fall to the wayside, leaving those involved in the process with questions even the most experienced leaders can’t answer. As many working in the telecommunications field know, the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program is facing unexpected delays. In the 3 ½ years since the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was signed into law, experts have agreed that American communities need broadband sooner, rather than later. 

With political uncertainty clouding the future of the BEAD program, flexibility will remain integral to bringing broadband goals to life. Announcements about funding delays and rescinded grants only add to the widespread stress facing communities across the US. During difficult times, it is more important than ever that professionals make space in their lives for self-investment.

1. Embrace authenticity.

Early in law school, professors and mentors often suggest that students write down their motivations for enrolling. Through the rigorous coursework, competitive environment, and challenging conversations with classmates, colleagues, and family, this statement offers a reminder that hard work pays off, even before actualizing long-term goals. Even without the prompt of a new beginning like the start of a new academic experience, this practice can benefit anyone working to achieve a major milestone in their work. 

If you or your organization already has a strategic plan, consider which pieces most motivate you. Then, take out a notebook or open a blank word document and journal about why. Remember the moments that stick out to you, where you felt you were exactly where you were meant to be. Keep this document somewhere that you can reference it freely. On those days when you feel discouraged or burnt out, you might need to hear in your own words why the heartache, stress, and exhaustion are worth it. 

2. Rescuing yourself before rescuing others is harder than it looks. 

Public servants of all types are accustomed to being pulled in many directions. With resources more scarce than ever, critically important priorities are pitted against each other for funding. On top of financial constraints, public services are often in greater demand than the number of professionals in the field can account for. Facing strained resources and an insurmountable workload can easily lead to burnout, which further reduces the number of professionals addressing pressing societal needs. When drowning in a sea of intense stress, self-care can serve as a liferaft. 

There are as many self-care strategies as there are people, since we each have our own needs and desires. In 2020, Dr. Mary-Ellen Brown published Hazards of our Helping Profession: A Practical Self-Care Model for Community Practice. Dr. Brown’s iM-PAACT framework is a four-stage model for self-care developed for social workers working in community practice, and provides a helpful guide for professionals of all kinds. 

iM – Invest in Me | A pre-stage of the framework where practitioners acknowledge self-care as a valuable investment and a personal priority. 

Prioritize | The initial stage involves exploring self-care activities, setting goals, and building self-care time. 

Act and Assess | Stage Two involves practicing the self-care plan set during Stage One and reworking the plan where needed. 

Connect | In Stage Three, practitioners connect internally and externally, checking in with themselves and seeking accountability from others. 

Thrive | Step Four realizes the investment made during Stages One through Three, reassessing the plan as needed and planning for emergencies. 

Whether you work as a social worker in community practice or a corporate attorney, self-care is key for anyone striving for their fullest potential. 

3. Investing in yourself can make you more productive. 

One of my neighbors kindly left a copy of Now, Discover Your Strengths, from Gallup, 20th Anniversary Edition in the Free Little Library in my neighborhood. Gallup describes skills as a determinant of whether one can do something. Talents, on the other hand, describe “how well and how often you do it”. In Strengths theory, training cannot “create a strength” without an underlying talent. By contrast, in pursuing ones’ strengths feels good emotionally, which Strengths describes as a “built-in feedback loop” from nature.” Discovering newly revealed skills and developing existing ones can keep us motivated and help us recharge. 

Findings from an EduBirdie survey of 2,000 Gen Z and younger millennials show that 63% believe that astrology positively impacted their career. Among other benefits, Avery Morgan, productivity expert and chief communications officer at EduBirdie, suggests that astrology aids in self-reflection, inviting thoughtful consideration of the interplay between strengths and weaknesses. 

Whether using a formal assessment or putting your trust in the stars, self-awareness is key to understanding your own needs and seeking creative outlets that showcase your greatest strengths. Knowing yourself can aid in developing a deeper connection with yourself, further promoting self-fulfillment. 

Summarizing Self-Care Superpowers: 

• Connect with your inner values and keep them close to your chest in times of crisis. 
• Plan on investing in yourself, building time each week for your passions. 
• Know yourself, spending time in reflection and developing a growth mindset.

Does your team need additional drafting or editing support? I now offer Writing Consultations! You can schedule time to meet with me on Upwork for $20 per half hour. Each 30-minute consultation includes:

• Meeting Summary: A recap of the consultation for the client, with your key points, recommendations, or next steps.
• Time and Cost Summary: An estimate of how much time it will take to finish the project, and how much it will cost.
• Project Plan: All of the steps necessary to complete the client’s project.

I look forward to learning more about how I can bring your project to life.