STUDENT AFFAIRS

PROFESSIONALS &
SELF-CARE
Abby Townson
Jessica Zuber 
• Mindfulness Exercise 
• What is Self-Care?
OVERVIEW
• Importance of Self-Care for Student Affairs
Professionals 
• Compassion Fatigue
• Cultural Taxation
• Video Example
• ABCs of Self-Care
• Resources for Student Affairs Professionals 
• Discussion Questions 
 3-MINUTE
MEDITATION
 PRACTICING SELF-CARE IS A
RADICAL NOTION IN STUDENT
AFFAIRS AND IT SHOULDN’T BE-
TIFFANY J. DAVIS
 WHAT IS SELF-
Self-Care is the act of consciously tending to your own CARE?
well-being. It is a holistic process toward strengthening our
overall well-being.

This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY.

Self-Care is not...
Work-Life Balance
◦ Work-Life balance is often conflated with
self-care, but it is distinct.
◦ Work-Life balance refers to the separation of
work and personal life.
◦ Work and personal life are distinct entities and
should be treated as such. 
Professional Boundaries
◦ Setting professional boundaries is one way
professionals maintain work-life balance. 
◦ Only responding to work emails during work
hours
◦ Not providing personal cell phone to students
◦ Setting boundaries is helpful for self-care, but
not the same as actively practicing self-care. 
 WHY IS SELF-CARE IMPORTANT?
"You cannot pour from an empty cup."
Student affairs professionals are in a helping profession and are expected to provide
support to students, many of whom have experienced trauma and significant issues.

 In order to be of help to these populations, we need to put ourselves first. 

 OBSTACLES TO SELF-CARE
• Compassion Fatigue                      "the cost of caring"
• Refers to the second-hand trauma and stress that people in helping professions
often experience. 
• Affects many aspects of a professional's personal well-being
• Poor self-care, high stress/anxiety, mental and physical exhaustion, being
critical of others, frustration 
• Affects job satisfaction and retention 
Why is Self-Care Important? 
Cultural Taxation Emotional Labor 

◦ Burden placed on student affairs professionals ◦ Expectation that women and student affairs
of Color to address diversity related issues.  professionals of Color should carry the burden
of caring, empathy, and validation at work
◦ An example of invisible labor 
while simultaneously suppressing their own
◦ Unpaid work related to diversity issues
emotions at work.
◦ Higher advising loads, longer hours, expectation to
serve on committees as "experts"  ◦ Compassion fatigue, cultural taxation,
emotional and invisible labor have documented
negative impacts on student affairs
professionals, which is why self-care is so
critical. 
HOW DO WE ENGAGE IN SELF-CARE?
ABCs of  Compassion Fatigue Prevention 

Practical tips for preventing burn-out and actively engaging in self-care

Awareness: Practicing Mindfulness 
Mindfulness is the basic human ability to  be • Identify triggering issues
fully present and aware of where we are and • Forces focus onto the self
what we are doing without being overly reactive
or overwhelmed by what is going on around us.  • Helps to reduce stress

Ways to practice mindfulness include therapy, • Helps to manage anxiety

journaling, support groups, yoga, and meditation • Increases relaxation
• Enhances one's individual capacity
for attention and concentration 
Balance: Self-Care and Social Media
• Getting and keeping your life in balance is a • Tips to promote balanced living
critical part of preventing burn-out and • Be available to disconnect if
practicing self-care.  emotional challenges outweigh opportunities
• Curating news feed
• Balance entails the following things...
• Placing boundaries around social media use
• Taking time off 
• Disengage completely from social media when
• Prioritizing activities that are enjoyable necessary to promote positive mental health
• Challenging negativity in work life
• Seeking professional help when experiencing
compassion fatigue 
Connections: Building Critical Communities
◦ Identify networks of support both inside and ◦ Tips for building critical communities:
outside of work  ◦ Create communities at institutions for
professionals as well as students
◦ Critical communities involve openness, active
◦ Foster healthy relationships between supervisors
listening, commitment, and accountability  and colleagues
◦ These networks can take a variety of forms: ◦ Connect with others in the field via digital
◦ Family communities
◦ Civic Organizations
◦ Learning Communities
◦ Digital Communities
Self-Care Tips 
◦ Spending times with others
◦ Reading a book
◦ Listening to podcasts
◦ Saying "no" to requests for one's time and energy

This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND.

Self-Care Resource List 
◦ Websites
◦ National Wellness Institute 
◦ Books
◦ Women Who Think Too Much: How to Break Free of Overthinking and Reclaim Your Life Audiobook by Dr. Susah Nolen-Hoeksema 
◦ Negative Thoughts: Discover How to Stop Negative Thoughts by Changing the Way You Think by Anne Seguin

◦ Physical Wellness
◦ Sean Vigue Fitness YouTube Channel: Free Yoga Videos for Beginners 
◦ Full Body Everyday Workouts- Free Daily Workouts with Amazon Prime 
◦ Applications 
◦ Calm 
◦ Headspace 
◦ Goodreads
Discussion

◦ How are you currently engaging in self-

care? 
◦ How do or should student affairs
professionals engage in self-care?
◦ How might you determine what self-care
means to you? How can you identify
appropriate self-care strategies?
◦ What institutional policies and practices
could support better help-seeking and active
self-care practices for student affairs
professionals across all levels?

This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY.

REFERENCES
Magolda, P., Baxter Magolda, M.B., & Carducci, R. (2019). Contested issues in troubled times:   Student affairs
dialogues on equity, civility, and safety. Stylus Publishing, LLC.