Module 1: The Power of Holistic Self-Care (from our online course, “Feel Better, Care Better”.
Lesson 1.1 – What Is Holistic Self-Care?
Lesson Objective:
To introduce the concept of holistic self-care and establish why it’s essential for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) to prioritize their own wellness in order to provide high-quality, sustainable care.
Instructor Script / Lesson Content:
Welcome to “Feel Better, Care Better.”
Before we dive into techniques and tools, we need to start with a powerful truth: You are the foundation of the care you give. When you feel depleted, rushed, or emotionally exhausted, the quality of your care—and your sense of purpose—can suffer.
As Direct Support Professionals, you provide essential, often life-changing support to others. But in the process, it’s easy to forget that your mind, body, and spirit need care too. That’s where holistic self-care comes in.
What Is Holistic Self-Care?
Holistic self-care means caring for the whole you—not just your physical health, but your mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. It recognizes that every part of your life is connected.
When one area of your life is out of balance—like chronic stress, lack of rest, or emotional overwhelm—it affects everything else: your mood, your energy, even how well you can support the people you care for.
Holistic care isn’t about expensive spa days or perfection. It’s about simple, sustainable habits that help you feel grounded, healthy, and more connected to your work and your life.
Why Does This Matter for DSPs?
Because burnout is real—and it’s common in caregiving roles.
You might recognize some of these signs:
- Feeling emotionally drained before your shift even begins
- Difficulty focusing or feeling numb during client interactions
- Getting sick more often or struggling with chronic fatigue
- Losing your sense of joy or purpose in your work
These aren’t signs of failure—they’re signs that your caregiving system needs care.
By learning to care for yourself holistically, you build resilience. You recover faster from stress. And most importantly—you reconnect with why you do this work in the first place.
Key Takeaway:
“You cannot pour from an empty cup. Holistic self-care fills that cup so you can keep showing up with presence, energy, and compassion.”
Guided Journaling Exercise (Downloadable PDF or Online Form):
Title: “Where Am I on the Caregiver Energy Scale?”
Take a few minutes to reflect and answer the following:
- On a scale of 1–10, how energized do you feel on a typical workday morning?
- When was the last time you did something just for your own well-being?
- What is one thing your body has been trying to tell you lately?
- What part of your day drains you the most? What part fills you up?
- If you could change just one thing about your daily rhythm to feel better, what would it be?
Reflection Prompt:
Write a short paragraph answering this:
“What does ‘feeling better’ mean to me, and how might that improve how I care for others?”
End of Lesson
Next Up:
In our next lesson, we’ll explore how stress lives in the body—and what it’s really doing to caregivers over time.
Wendy Richmond, RN Trainer