It can feel selfish to want to put your own needs ahead of others, but as afterschool professionals and leaders, it's important to prioritize your mental, physical, and emotional well-being.

The pandemic has highlighted this even further. If you're struggling—and find yourself merely surviving—shift yourself to thriving, with this checklist from MindGym.

Have you ...?

1. Pinpointed time in your schedule for breaks and created an end to your workday?

2. Thought about who you have in your social circle who takes well-being seriously and reached out to them to have a conversation?

3. Asked yourself "Is this necessary, right now?" to re-prioritize your tasks according to your schedule?

4. Let go of ruminating about how things "should be" and instead accepted that life as we know it has changed?

5. Focused only on those things that are within your control and that you can do?

Remember: self-care is essential.

NAA offers the following resources to help with your or your team members' self-care:

• The Afterschool Professional’s Guide to Self-Care
• The “Self-Care in 2021” Facebook Group
• The New First Aid We Should All Be Practicing
• Put Your Own Oxygen Mask on First
• Trauma Informed Practices and Self-care

Courtesy of NAA.

Photo courtesy of Allison Shelley for American Education: Images of Teachers and Students in Action.