Being a music therapist can be a tiring job - Getting to places yourself (Unless you have a private driver, or you work full time :P) , Organising your schedules with clients and organisations by yourself (Emails, Phone Calls...), Working irregular times (Most don't work 9-5pm), and not getting a lot of colleagues (As we all run around to do the things we needed to)... and you might easily burnt out , even if you have a great heart.
However, it is a very rewarding job. You get to use your own skills (Eg Music) to help and improve other people's quality of life , and maxmise their life potentials... You see clients and patients change over time as you build a clinical relationship with them. All of their lives are together wonderfully amazing.
Nonetheless, it's important to embrace self-care. "Self -Care"is a term for health professionals to maintain their own health to prevent burnt out. A good quote below explains it well -
"Think of it like this: Imagine our energy is like a bank account. We choose to deposit or withdraw energy when we like. We are only born with a certain amount of energy, and if we withdraw it all in small amounts over time without making any deposits, we will end up impoverished very quickly. Self care rituals are deposits into our energy bank account. When we look after ourselves by taking a bath, cooking and eating a healthy meal, laughing with friends, getting into nature, or reading a good book, we top-up our energy account for when we need to draw on it again. Too many of us are in debt. We constantly draw on the account and spend too little time topping it up."
So, to care for my job so I am not burnt out, I found an online self-care community group! It's exciting and refreshing to have a self-care community group online , where you are privileged to share your burdens whenever and wherever you want to. They suggested a "30 Day Self-care challenge" - which includes questions like this :
What are you thankful for today?
What is your self-care practise this weekend?
What are some great things that happened at work?
What brings you joy and affirmation?
What are the things that keeps you going at work?
More about self-care:
http://www.elephantjournal.com/2015/05/how-self-care-can-change-the-world/
Also, I found this great resource online that's called "Manage your stress through music"
http://www.amazon.com/Manage-Your-Stress-Through-Music/dp/0876391013
I've heard a famous quote that says "Love others as you love others".
If you burn out and not love yourself, how can you keep loving others?
Hope everyone is caring for yourself well before you care for others- Try practise a 30-day Self care challenge!!
Best regards,
Hanna
hannatsoi213
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