We’ll Make It Through, Together.

As I sit here in my home trying to put this moment in time into words, I don’t quite know what to say. I’m sure many of you out there are experiencing the same. We’re experiencing so many different emotions as information seems to change every day. This whole event can be difficult for adults to wrap their minds around. It can be just as difficult for kiddos to comprehend as well.

With schools, offices, and recreational areas closed it can be difficult to navigate daily life as everyone is hunkered down at home. That’s why now, more than ever, it’s important to practice self-care. As music therapists we learn about burnout and how to help prevent it, in school. Personally, it wasn’t until I started working in a hospital that I learned I needed to take self-care seriously and actually find things that work for me. As the saying goes, “you can’t pour from an empty cup”.

I encourage music therapists to take some time and create a list of “action items” you can refer to when you’re in need of some self-care. Sometimes when we know we need to practice self-care, but don’t know what to do, that hesitation can be just enough to prevent us from doing it. So, by having a list handy, it cuts down on that hesitation. Whether you’re working from home, unable to work at this time, or heading back to the workforce once this all subsides, I’ve created a few self-care tips/ideas to get your self-care list going. Enjoy and be well!

Sara Chigani, MA, MT-BC