Alexandra Anderson and Ana Clara Blesso
Odds are, if we met even for a short while, I would talk to you about "squad care."
Self-care is a great and important practice; we should all take deliberate steps to ensure that we are our best selves. For some, self-care looks like meditation and vacation time. For others, it can mean massages and pedicures. I myself have struggled with self-care—because when I am stressed or burnt out, I can’t always see what I need in that moment. I believe it takes a village, and the work of career development professionals is no exception.
Melissa Harris-Perry of Wake Forest University originally taught me about this concept of collective care during a panel about advocacy I streamed from afar. I remember her talking passionately about the importance of watching out for one another, supporting each other, and realizing that we do not exist alone—so care and support should not be experienced in a vacuum. I was hooked.
I’ve described it as the idea that receiving encouragement from colleagues, mentors, and friends can go a long way, and can help with maintaining resiliency and strong mental health during challenging times. I quickly realized that squad care was a new term for me, but not a new concept. I’ve been practicing squad-care all along.
Over the next few months, I’ll be sharing some tips for creating your own squad—and how it’s been essential for my professional development and well being.
Burnout can look different for each individual. I’ve heard colleagues describe it as a loss of passion for the work or a persistent feeling of stress and anxiety. For me, burnout always looks like physical exhaustion—the desire to recharge, but not being able to do so in a restful way. When I feel burnout start to creep in, I immediately turn to mentors and colleagues, like Alex. I have vivid memories of calling Alex about two years ago, feeling this type of exhaustion, and her providing me perspective and making me, of all things, laugh.
Sometimes, it’s helpful to have a member of your care squad reside outside of your inner circle. Having to explain the root of my burnout to Alex allowed me the opportunity to reflect on it, and together, we came up with self-care strategies that I likely wouldn’t have thought of on my own. She spoke of the importance of taking short breathing (and laughter!) breaks during the day, stepping away from social media and e-mail when appropriate, and being mindful of my physical surroundings (for example, making sure I get some exposure to sunlight during harsh New England winters). With Alex’s support, I felt less alone in my burnout, and I began to develop new approaches to recharging and remaining excited about my work. I continue to use that advice to this day. I find that, when a member of your squad truly cares, it’s okay to be vulnerable and reach out for help. This, my friends, is the true meaning of squad-care.
Sometimes, creating a squad can start with a formal process, like the NACE Mentor Program. But, it certainly doesn’t have to end there. Find out more in the next squad-care blog!
#personaldevelopment