Woman Lying in Grass
by Janice Martinez, PLMSW
This summer is dedicated completely to self-care. Coming off five years of education, this is the first summer I am not in class. I have also been blessed this year with a position as a school social worker, so I have summers off. The biggest lesson I have learned is that self-care is not selfish but is necessary. We all deserve some time to recharge to be present with our clients when they need it.
My days vary from going to the gym, reading books for pleasure, or catching a movie, to playing with my niece, visiting family, hanging out in the camper, getting a pedicure or facial, or just sitting on the couch with a blanket and bingeing on all the shows I never had time for. My biggest feat this summer will be taking a vacation with my husband to Philadelphia for the Fourth of July festivities, seeing some historical sites, and visiting Lincoln Financial Field. I am a huge Eagles fan! I also have a fear of flying, but up, up, and away I will go.
Some days can be boring, since the rest of the world is working, but I do value the personal time. When the occasion arises for social activities, those are much more enjoyable, because I don’t have to rush off to type a paper, read a chapter, or complete internship hours. I now feel the peace and rewards of completing my education.
There are so many small things that can be done in a day for self-care. It is something that we can schedule purposefully in our work day. Some days, I simply close my door for 15 minutes, take a walk to the bathroom farthest from my office, or watch the kids play at recess. I often hear others say they cannot even find the time to have lunch! I love food too much for that.
If we expect our clients to implement the techniques we teach them daily, shouldn’t we do the same for ourselves? Yes, the answer is yes! So, take off your shoes, walk in the grass, smell the flowers, let the sun shine on your face, and smile.
Have a great rest of the summer my fellow social workers.
Janice Martinez, PLMSW, is a recent graduate of WNMU in rural social work. She completed three degrees in five years.