Team’s and Manager’s wellbeing

Posted: 3rd February 2026

Selfcare is not selfish, let’s change the narrative

At a recent selfcare workshop held in January, (download the slides here), we shared ideas for renewing our energy levels in winter. We explored many of the issues which can get in the road of us looking after our own wellbeing. It is amazing how we can often think looking after ourselves is somehow selfish and we feel guilty for taking the time to ourselves, which we feel we should be giving to others.  Yet, taking time for ourselves is not selfish, it is not taking away from others.  We can recognise our responsibilities of being part of building a kinder, fairer, more compassionate world, we just also need to recognise the responsibility to ourselves to look after our wellbeing too so we can be there for others. This piece on tips to manage guilt may be of interest https://www.copescotland.com/resources/tips-to-self-manage-feelings-of-guilt

In the main when asked, most of us can share what we think selfcare is, also what we can do about our own selfcare. However, when we drill down further, we find, yes, we do know, but we often do not prioritise it.  We feel there are other things, people, responsibilities that require our attention more, to a point where even taking a lunch break, we pretend we are working, for fear others may think we are not trying hard enough!

It seems there can almost be a ‘stigma’ around selfcare, where people feel others are sneering at their efforts to be kind to themselves as well as others. That being exhausted and burnt out has almost become a badge of honour and if you are not telling everyone how busy you are, well they will think less of you. Is this really helpful for anyone?

Yes, we are busy, yes, we are perhaps working, living, volunteering in challenging times, however, over the course of human history there have been many challenging times, what helped us get through these was working together and looking out for each other. Perhaps if we think of collective care as well as selfcare then we can remind each other that this is important. Peer support can offer space to share and practice selfcare ideas. The slides in this piece offer some ideas which may be of interest https://www.copescotland.com/resources/peer-support-in-the-workplace

What was clear was we needed to find ways to make sure selfcare and looking after our wellbeing didn’t need to feel so complicated, another thing to do on a long list of to do’s This piece around the selfcare score card and selfcare ideas offers some ways where we can weave more wellbeing into our day which does not take a lot of time at all https://www.copescotland.com/resources/self-care-scorecard

The impact of social media and the news with the messaging of ‘’it’s bad and going to get worse’’, was recognised as not being great for our wellbeing. These tips on avoiding doom scrolling may be of interest https://www.copescotland.com/resources/tips-to-avoid-doom-scrolling  We also shared the time that can be spent/even wasted on our phones and I pads is perhaps not doing our wellbeing, or time management, any favours. In fact, if we spend too much time on social media and scrolling, we may find it makes us more anxious, distracted and can perhaps even pull our mood down. This piece may be of interest, even though for children it has a lot to teach all of us perhaps https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/articles/zhgs9ty

What is clear is that we do need to look after ourselves as well as others and we all have it in us to influence those around us and our environment to begin to create that more caring compassionate world which is good for us and everyone else. Here are some ideas that were shared.

• Be willing to accept help as well as give it
• Find a balance between what I choose to do for others and what I choose to do for myself
• Lead by example and not be afraid to say selfcare matters for all of us
• Stop comparing myself to others and thinking they are doing a better job than me
• Set time limits on my phone
• Re-enforce a culture at work where taking a lunch break is normal and not indulgent
• Be more aware of my boundaries and stop feeling the need to justify selfcare
• Take moments to pause and reflect not feel the need that the whole day needs to go a 100 mph
• Recognise selfcare actions can be free and easy to build into the day
• Share ideas for selfcare with others and learn from their examples
• Remind myself, that I matter too and its okay to say that it does not make me selfish.

Thanks for reading. For more ideas visit www.copescotland.com

Please remember, you do matter too

Hilda

Expires: 31/03/2026

More Information: https://www.copescotland.com/resources/boundaries-postcard

Contact: hildac@copescotland.com