Rethinking Self-Care in Occupational Stress

An abundance of literature on the subject of self-care reveals many understandings and, the authors suggest, misunderstandings, regarding self-care. Such (mis)understandings have impacted how both individuals and organizations alike have approached and even prescribed self-care practices. This chapter reviews several common (mis)understandings of self-care, including the notion of work-life balance, the disconnect between self-care theory and reality, and self-care and its relationship to occupational stress. Finally, drawing on both literature and the authors' experiences as therapists and educators, this chapter discusses how rethinking self-care can help individuals and organizations shift understandings of self-care, and in so doing, establish novel strategies for practicing self-care and dealing with occupational stress.