Healthcare and community sector professionals are the backbone of our community. But too often, they’re being asked to absorb the impossible.

Too often, we fall into the trap of excessive selflessness, feeling under significant pressure to equate personal depletion with effective professionalism.

*Disclaimer* I'm not talking about having a blissful spa day, massage, baths and candles.

Whilst those things can be very nice, deeply replenishing and meaningful self-care is something quite different.

Self care should always be a priority.

It needs to be a proactive focus at a team and individual level, not just when an individual is getting burnt out. Self-care should also not just be a priority because of covid.

We have all been riding the corona coaster for a while now and can't really see a clear end as we go in and out of lockdowns but after over a year of this experience I think we can look back and review how we initially responded, adapted and how we are leading ourselves and our teams now.