Self-care for Animal Helpers
Animal welfare volunteers and workers need to be nicer to each other, everyone says, kinder, more understanding. All very true! But, what about how we treat ourselves? The truth is that while we fight hard to advocate for the quality of animal lives, making sure that we create our own quality of life is not loudly encouraged. In fact, there is often a stigma against setting limits. We’re made to feel that we don’t care enough or that a busy self sacrificing life is a badge of honor. In many ways, it takes more courage to stand up for protecting ourselves than it does to be pulled along into one crisis after another. An essential aspect of helping is actually being in a good position to be of help. For this #WiseWednesday, we want to offer some ideas about self care for animal helpers.
Set a well-being budget
We choose how well or how badly we take care of ourselves in dozens of little ways every day. It’s one thing to give up some sleep or to work overtime to help resolve a particularly urgent case. It’s another thing to consistently live this way, without allowing enough recovery time. Weigh each request for help against the personal expense. Are you currently living beyond your well-being budget? If so, be fearless enough to say no or to strictly limit your involvement. Help can come in a variety of ways, including just directing elsewhere. Be prepared with possible alternative suggestions to your involvement, and be positive but firm about your own inability to become involved at this time.
It’s your job to take care of you
It’s often tempting to resent others for asking that we do too much rather than to acknowledge our responsibility for saying no. It’s not someone else’s job to know your limits, to keep your already tight schedule in mind, or to be aware of your personal costs. You don’t even need to remind others of these factors. The person who needs to keep these factors in mind is you. There is no need to make excuses, or to make anyone feel bad for asking. Just say no. How someone responds is on them.
Be your own biggest fan
Nobody knows you better than you know yourself. If you constantly rely on others to reinforce the fact that you’re doing enough, this will never be an accurate representation of what you’re actually doing. Be able to pat yourself on the back for all of your efforts, for what you’ve accomplished, as well as for what you’ve been strong enough to leave on the table. Be proud of yourself for the ability to ask for help or to allow someone else to take over when needed.
Build the life you want to have
When you’ve lived your life in a constant state of taking care of others, it can be difficult to know what you want or need yourself. Spend some time thinking about what really makes you happy. Do you enjoy reading? Make that a daily well-being expenditure. Is travel what you love? Make an upcoming trip a necessity. Don’t just carve out amounts of free time, but work at building a life you love around the work you love to do.
Be the light
Happiness is contagious, and it’s also a conscious choice. If you want to have a positive impact, be positive. This can be really tough for those who regularly see the sad situations animals have ended up in. But, we can choose to also see the amazing ways so much works out, and how so many people are helping. We can cheer on and build up, rather than criticize or tear down. And, the great thing about light is that it can shine from a distance. You don’t need to be close to someone to provide a little light.
We talk about animals being our children, and indeed, we should love them like family. However, there are big differences in levels of responsibility, particularly when it comes to rescue. Our animals will never grow to independently care for themselves. They rely entirely on a stable succession of caregiving/caregivers, which heavily depends on the health and stability of their current caregiver. In regards to rescue, it also depends on that caregiver’s ability to cooperate successfully with supporters and new potential caregivers. All of this requires taking good care of ourselves while kindly supporting each other.
For more ideas about self care, check out these articles: