Baycrest - End of Life Volunteer Manual
58
STRATEGIES TO MANAGE STRESS
REFLECTION
Part of self-care is reflection. For some people, reflection comes
easily. They keep a journal or have a friend with whom they can
talk about their stress. For others, reflection seems like wasting
time. As a Palliative Care volunteer, reflection is essential. You will
find yourself thinking about your own understanding of life and
death and past losses. This kind of reflection will help you cope
with your own personal reactions when someone you are helping
dies.
HAVING FUN
It's important to create time and opportunities for fun to recharge
your soul, including:
• Physical exercise
• Mental exercise – artistic pursuits, reading, painting
• Spiritual exercise – meditation, time alone for dreaming,
gathering with like-minded people
• Relaxation – listening to music, walking in nature, going to the
movies, having a massage
• Other things you like to do
RELAXING INTO BEING
To succeed in life, we are busy "doing" – getting degrees and
promotions, rushing from task to task. However, when a person is
nearing end of life, the doing is over and all that is left is simply
"being". Volunteers – along with other members of the Palliative
Care team – will be brought more and more to the place of just
"being" with the person. This can be a difficult place to go, yet it is
also an opportunity for the miracle of authentic human connection
to occur.
CROSSING BOUNDARIES
If you say "yes" to any of the following, you may have crossed
boundaries and should talk to your supervisor:
