Thriving Through Summer Break: A Trauma-Informed Approach for Professionals

Team TICS
July 15, 2024

As dedicated professionals, we can often forget about ourselves amidst the fast-paced, hectic day-to-day tasks. Here at Team TICS, we really hope that this summer, you can find an opportunity to take some time out to recharge and reflect. However, for those of us working in education, healthcare, social services, or any field involving trauma-informed care, this period can also come with its own set of challenges. Ensuring we maintain our well-being is crucial not just for ourselves but for the people we support. In this blog, we draw upon the trauma-informed perspective to demonstrate how to navigate the summer period as both a professional and a human being.

Recognise the Impact of Trauma on Yourself

For those of you who might have seen our recent work around Vicarious Trauma, acknowledgment is one of the most powerful tools we have at our fingertips. Working with individuals who have experienced trauma is a profound privilege, offering a unique opportunity to witness and support incredible resilience and healing. It means engaging with individuals during some of their most vulnerable moments and providing a safe space for them to rebuild their lives. To do so, we exude copious amounts of empathy and compassion. Every day, we appreciate the strength of the human spirit but to promote recovery and resilience in others, we must take opportunities to recognise the impact on ourselves

Strategies for a Trauma-Informed Summer Break

Rest and Relaxation: Make rest a priority. Seriously! Read that again. Allocate time for activities that you find genuinely relaxing and rejuvenating, whether it’s reading, hiking, or simply spending time with loved ones. This downtime is crucial for mental recovery.

Mindfulness and Meditation: Incorporate mindfulness practices into your daily routine. This can be as simple as walking in nature mindfully noticing different shaped leaves! Meditation, yoga, or even mindful walking can help reduce stress and improve emotional regulation. These practices help ground you in the present moment, reducing rumination and anxiety.

Journaling: Use journaling as a tool to process your experiences and emotions. Reflect on the past year, your professional experiences, and your personal growth. Writing can be a therapeutic outlet for expressing thoughts and feelings.

"Writing has always saved me and I've been using it as a tool for as long as I can remember. It helps me to make sense of the turmoil and the calmness of my internal world while also creating meaning of the external world we're living and working in."

Dr Lisa Cherry

Set Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries between work and personal time. Use the summer break to remove work-related responsibilities as much as possible. Clearly delineated boundaries help prevent burnout and maintain your personal time. You could be really brave and have a technology detox! Limit your use of work emails and other professional communications during your time off. This can help you truly disconnect and recharge.

Engage in Professional Development: If, like some of us at TICS, the prospect of completely switching off feels too daunting, you could keep an eye out for any learning opportunities which you are interested in. Sometimes, attending the odd webinar or course can reignite your passion. We've got quite a few options for you to choose from in our shop! Ideally, you could find some opportunities to learn further about how to enhance skills that can improve your well-being, such as time management, resilience training, or new therapeutic techniques.

Cultivate Joy and Creativity: Reconnecting with hobbies and interests that bring us joy no matter what they are can work wonders for our wellbeing. Creativity in particular has been found to contribute towards allowing us to enter into a state of slow where we are entirely absorbed in what we are doing. This can reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. The aim is not to be the next Picasso (that would be great though!) but just to enjoy the process of creation.

New Experiences: Try something new that excites you. This could be travelling to a new place, taking up a new sport, or learning a new skill. New experiences can give us fresh perspectives and the opportunity to discover ourselves more deeply. Whatever you choose, we would love to hear all about it…

Transition Planning: Think about how you will transition back to work after the break. Having a plan can reduce anxiety and make the return smoother. A well-thought-out transition plan can help you re-enter your work environment with a renewed sense of purpose and energy.

Conclusion

Summer break is a valuable time for professionals to practice trauma-informed self-care. By prioritising rest, setting boundaries, pursuing professional development, cultivating joy, and planning for the future, you can enhance your well-being and resilience. Remember, whatever stories you may carry about taking caring of yourself, it is not a luxury; it’s a necessity that enables you to continue providing the best support for those you support. Embrace this time to rejuvenate and prepare for your return to work.

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