This module explores the importance of self-care for anyone who is being leaned on. It also helps you identify signs of burnout and gives you practical ways to implement self-care in your life. Many people in our society seem to live their lives having lost the zest for life. People can become so absorbed in their work that they fail to recognize the sign of approaching burnout until it’s too late.People are defined not by who they are, but by what they do. The consequences of this are that people care more about work than themselves. You literally run yourself into the ground through your work commitments. The litany of work-related illness continues to grow: back injuries, heart attacks, depression, high blood pressure, premature aging, obesity, anxieties, ulcers, migraine headaches, etc. It is said of Western culture that people spend more time taking care of their possessions than of themselves. If you consider the time, money and effort spent on maintaining your home, car and possessions, you can easily conclude that there is very little left for self-care.

This final section on self-care explores the importance of this behaviour for the skilled listener. It also helps us to identify signs of burnout and provides practical ways to implement self-care in one’s own life.