Life is full of demands, and in highly stressful circumstances, self-care often takes a backseat. However, self-care is not a luxury—it is a necessity for sustainable well-being, particularly for those in vocational Christian ministry or other demanding professions. Without intentional self-care, burnout is a real risk, leading to diminished effectiveness, compromised well-being, and potentially even the inability to keep doing the work that you love and find so signficant..
“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
Jesus did not promote constant busyness. He modeled self-care through rest, prayer, and solitude, knowing it was necessary for long-term ministry. True self-care honors God’s design for us as integrated beings—body, soul, and spirit. It is a practice of stewardship, ensuring that we can continue to serve, love, and lead with endurance.
Why Self-Care Matters
Self-care is not simply about relaxation or indulgence; it is about stewarding your well-being in alignment with core values and responsibilities. Effective self-care ensures:
Professional Well-Being – Maintain competence and a sense of meaning in your work through supervision, ongoing professional development, and healthy work boundaries.
Psychological Well-Being – Engaging in self-reflection, emotional regulation, and appropriate coping strategies to navigate stress effectively.
Spiritual Well-Being – Cultivating a thriving relationship with God, prioritizing spiritual growth, and ensuring your faith remains central in all aspects of life.
Lifestyle Well-Being – Nourishing physical health and social connections through balanced habits, rest, and meaningful relationships.
Neglecting these areas can lead to exhaustion and loss of purpose, while prioritizing self-care enables longevity and resilience.
Common Barriers to Self-Care
Despite its importance, self-care often encounters resistance. Some common barriers include:
Time Constraints – Feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities and believing there is no time for self-care.
Financial Limitations – Seeing self-care as an added expense rather than an investment.
Family or Relational Obligations – Placing others’ needs above personal well-being, leading to self-neglect.
Spiritualized Excuses – Misunderstanding self-sacrifice as self-neglect, rather than sustainable service.
However, true self-care is an ethical imperative, particularly for those in religious work, where vulnerability to burnout is significant.
Developing a Self-Care Plan: The C.A.R.E. Model
To create a sustainable self-care plan, consider the C.A.R.E. framework:
Consider Core Values – Align self-care with your deepest convictions and what truly matters to you.
Assess Current Practices – Reflect on strengths and gaps in your current self-care routine.
Record a Sustainable Plan – Create a structured yet flexible plan for improvement.
Evaluate and Adjust – Regularly review and refine your approach to maintain balance.
Developing your own CARE plan
Set aside some time to do this self-reflection and come up with a plan for moving forward. I encourage you to look over these questions first (even a couple of times) and let the questions ruminate. Then settle in to answer the following questions to help you come up with your own self care plan. Your answers will be kept confidential on your file and we will look over them together at our next session as well as set aside time for review in a future session.
Implementing and Evaluating Your Plan
Set three small, realistic goals for the next few months.
Identify potential barriers and how to navigate them.
Establish review dates (eg perhaps once a month) to assess progress.
Keep your plan visible and actionable, using reminders or accountability partners.