Taking time for yourself: self care in leadership

When you're an RA, you're always an RA. We're taught in training that it's like a fishbowl: we're always an RA first and everyone around us knows that.

So, with that type of reputation, how do you self care? How do you separate yourself from this position and be able to take care of yourself as a person and as a student? Especially when the end of the semester is approaching!

First, it's important to take all the free time for yourself. You deserve to curl up in bed and watch Netflix. You deserve to treat yourself to dinner. You deserve to go out for drinks with friends. You deserve to be a person, too.

My favorite way to destress is being with friends. On nights that I'm not on duty, I go to someone else's place. Whether that's an off-campus apartment, or an on-campus room, I'm hanging out somewhere that isn't my building. I'm distancing myself from potential problems and letting my CO handle those.

I'm also the type of person who loves to be home too on nights that I have off. So, if I don't want to be disturbed but want to be home, DON'T be afraid to put a do not disturb sign on your door!! Residents should respect that you're a person too.

It's okay to want to spend time with your residents outside of duty, but it's also okay to want to be alone without being an RA. Maybe that looks like being with friends, or maybe that looks like being in your room alone, or maybe that looks like getting off campus and doing something fun. Either way, realize you're a person who deserves time off and time away from this job and this position.

And, if you're struggling with this, TALK TO YOUR SUPERVISOR! They're there for a reason. They're helpful, they're a resource, and they probably have been in your shoes and understand. Just the other week, I told my supervisor that I wanted to miss our morning 1-on-1 meeting so I could catch up on sleep. And he said yes, because he knew I needed it. Don't be afraid to ask for help, especially when needed. Your health and wellbeing come first.