Taking Care of Yourself So You Can Keep Showing Up

This work is meaningful - but it’s also heavy.

When you’re consistently "Sitting in the Dirt" with students, you carry pieces of their stories with you. You hear things that stay with you long after the school day ends. You sit in moments that are emotional, overwhelming, and sometimes heartbreaking.

And if you’re not intentional, that weight can build.

Self-care in this profession isn’t just a nice idea - it’s necessary.

But I’ve also learned that self-care isn’t always what people make it out to be. It’s not just bubble baths or taking a day off (although those things can help). It’s deeper than that.

It’s knowing your limits. It’s recognizing when something has impacted you. It’s giving yourself permission to pause instead of pushing through everything.

For me, it’s been learning to check in with myself throughout the day. To notice when I’m feeling overwhelmed. To step away when I need to reset. To talk things through with people I trust instead of holding it all in.

Because the goal isn’t to carry everything perfectly.

The goal is to sustain this work.

Students need counselors who can keep showing up - not just for a week or a semester, but long-term. And that only happens when we take care of ourselves in a real, consistent way.

Because we can’t pour from an empty cup.

And we can’t sit in the dirt with our students if we’re buried in it ourselves.