Every day school-age care professionals dedicate themselves to caring for and nurturing children, youth, and families. Often school-age care professionals are so dedicated to serving others, they neglect their own needs. When this happens, school-age staff can experience stress that causes them to become overwhelmed, exhausted, frustrated, dissatisfied with job responsibilities, and unappreciated. When school-age care professionals maintain a healthy balanced lifestyle, they are in a much better position to face the challenges of supporting and nurturing children and families with positive energy, enthusiasm, patience, and empathy. By developing self-awareness; linking their personal and professional goals; developing a healthy balanced lifestyle; and identifying and managing stressors effectively, school-age staff can create and maintain a positive sense of well-being that allows them to maximize their ability to build positive relationships with children, parents, colleagues, and others.
