Self-Development

Here is a collection of books, lists, and other media to assist in your mental wellness and personal growth.

What is self-care?

Self-care is simply being compassionate to yourself. It is taking time to replenish healthy thoughts, feelings, and movements. It also involves knowing your limits, and setting personal boundaries to avoid feeling overwhelmed and stressed out. Self-care looks different to everyone, and there are many ways it can be practiced. By using self-care, you can improve your social, emotional, and mental well-being.

Here is how to make a self-care or Individualized Energy Plan (IEP).

(Adapted from Nebraska School Psychology Association, 2020)

Select Self-Care Activities

Choose your favorite activity to help you relax and recharge. This can be something that is calming (e.g. reading a book), or something energizing (e.g. going for a run)!

Can't think of any activities?

Use the list below to give you some ideas!

2. Identify Assets and Barriers

Think of items that make you happy. They can be objects, places, tasks, or even people.

Make a list of these items.

Think of somethings that make you worried or down.

Make a list of these items.

By identifying these items, you create better a understanding of what is making you the least and the most stressed. Understanding and pointing out these items help you build a self-care plan called, self-awareness. Self-awareness is being mindful of who you are. This will be important as we monitor ourselves in the next step.

3. Monitor Chosen Activities

Now that we've become aware of ourselves and things that bring us joy or stress, we can now monitor the activities that we picked in Step 1.

Monitoring is a big part of self-awareness. Sometimes, we think things may been helping us, can actually be the cause of our stress. By monitoring your feelings before and after you participate in self-care, you can create

Record your feelings before self-care, then record how you feel after you participate in self-care.

You can keep track of these feelings in a journal.

4. Develop a Plan

Keep a record of how much time you are dedicating to these activities. Set a realistic goal of how much you will practice self-care. Use your family or friend as an accountability partner, if needed.

5. Celebrate!

Congratulate yourself for taking the time to participate in self-care!

Self Care Ideas

Create a Self-Care Calendar

1. Write a list of things you enjoy doing. Include a variety of things, big and small. Make sure to consider physical, mental, and emotional activities so that you can be attentive to all of your wellness needs.
2. Think about how you can realistically incorporate activities into your schedule.
3. Focus on quality, not quantity.
4. Get a blank monthly calendar. (A digital download is perfect.)
Optional *Personalize and be creative (i.e. theme for each month, Canva is great for designing and creating)
5. Add self-care activities to the calendar.
6. Stick to the schedule.