Chapter 4 The Practices: Happy, Healthy Things You Can Do for Yourself

Cartoon shows man asking a woman sitting next to him at a table with coloring books and crayons, “I’m doing the picture of the non-profit staffer now. Do you have any color that says ‘totally stressed and burned out’?”

Individual Self-Care

You don’t live in a vacuum. Everyone you encounter benefits from your self-care. Imagine how much more effective you and your nonprofit could be if you took care of yourself as you take care of those your organization serves. Imagine what it would be like if you were able to access energy or calm as needed when you did your work or lived your life. Pay attention to your Five Spheres of Happy Healthy Living (self, others, environment, work and money, and tech). We can’t talk about self-care for you as an individual without acknowledging how you fit into the world and how you interact with everything and everyone around you.

Incorporating self-care into your day and your work reinforces the good habits that help fortify you against stress. A whole, well person is better able to tackle the day’s challenges with more focus, vibrancy, and perseverance. Let’s hear from other nonprofit professionals to see why, when, and how they fit self-care into their days—and nights.

Supporting Health and Wellness

We’ve shared the studies, reports, and statistics that support the importance of attending to your sleep, nutrition, and fitness. Now let’s look at the practical applications and practices that address the Wellness Triad from other nonprofit professionals as well as other ways to bring self-care ...

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