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5 Self-Care Tips for Super-Helpers: Protecting Yourself As You Help Others
5 Self-Care Tips for Super-Helpers: Protecting Yourself As You Help Others
Oct 12, 2022
Jess Vincent
Jan 22, 2025 11
If you're a natural helper, you probably already have a long menu of suggestions for how people should look after themselves. You already know about the benefits of self-compassion, mindfulness, relaxation techniques, exercise, a healthy diet, time spent with loved ones. These are delightful acts of self-care. But how much of this do you do for yourself?
You might believe it is your duty to provide for others. You might say you are too busy to spend time on yourself. You might be caring for others in your job and in every aspect of your personal life too. You might deny you have any needs but the fact is people who are good at looking after others are often not as good at looking after themselves.
Like everyone else there are times when you need comfort, rest, reassurance, sustenance, or time to yourself. And if you don't express your needs, how can anyone else know how to take care of you when you are struggling?
If you have a tendency to help others without looking after yourself, the first thing to do is to understand why this is. There are four beliefs that typically underlie super-helper behaviours and drive compulsive helping.
Jess Vincent