Self-Care for Program Leaders

Establishing support before you go and talk about your concerns.
Remember that your student assistants will need support and discuss with them ways to handle their stress.
Set up regular calls/Skype talks with friends family and a supervisor or colleague.
Create journaling or check-ins with your program assistants and for yourself.
Have a support network in place that can lighten the burden.
Establish strong understanding with program partners.

Set up a couple of venting sessions with a colleague who understands the situations you face.
When you are dealing with a risk management issue:
- Get lots of sleep, Keep yourself hydrated.
- Have someone you can turn to debrief.
Journaling.
If you see a therapist in the states, consider pre-paying for a session so you can discuss over Skype or the phone.
Have regular Skype conversations with friends, family and coworkers.
Talk to someone locally about your stress.
- Identify through your partners, or your own provider’s search feature, local exports who may be able to support you while off campus.
Be aware that other managers may have different experiences and may not be able to relate.

Be prepared for exhaustion.
Be prepared complicated feelings and different sort of relationships.
Don’t just go into something else after your program (vacation, etc.).
Create a feedback model with your program (debriefing).
Be prepared to continue the connection with your students (you need one another).

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