Part 2 of the self-care experience continues this week. Please take a look into other Gents who may have the same or similar career/lifestyle/obligations just as yourself.

Name: Dr. Calvin Green

What field are you in: Education Administration

How many hours a week do you work: 40 plus

Stress level: Moderate to High

What does your workload include? Working with and supporting students educational, academic, social/emotional, and behavioral challenges by providing interventions and support as needed.

Outside of your career, are there any other roles that you fulfill? Balancing all of it to live my best life. I would plan things for years but because I was always in school (bachelor’s degree straight to my doctorate) I missed out on a lot. Now I live more spontaneously.

How would you define self-care? Self care is the foundation of how and why we keep pushing! If we don’t put forth a conscious effort to take care of ourselves then we only end up hurting ourselves in the long run.

How do you implement self-care in your life? It’s all about balance and spontaneity for me. Balance is needed in order for me the take care of myself emotionally, physically, and holistically. Traveling, time for self, and being spontaneous at times with trying old and new things is what I constantly do to actively exhibit and implement care for myself.

How did you recognize that you needed an outlet? Burnout is REAL! I remember getting really sick because I wasn’t always taking care of myself. Ripping and running all the time WILL eventually catch up with you. Now I make a conscious effort yearly to take at least one trip by my lonesome and one with friends minimally. I’m a Pisces so I am a water sign, give me a beach and some water and I am a happy camper 😍.

Name: Mario

What field are you in: Flight attendant

How many hours a week do you work: Four days a week.

Stress level: The airline industry can definitely take a toll on you mentally and physically, but I try to not let it stress me out. If on a scale of 1-10 I'd say it could be a 7.

What does your workload include?

My airline job mainly consists of customer service. Dealing with the public in this capacity can have its obstacles, because you definitely can't please everyone. My main job is to get my passengers to and from their destinations safely. We deal with a lot of delays, going in and out of time zones, handling different types of questions, and personalities etc.

Outside of your career, are there any other roles that you fulfill? I recently graduated from barber college. I'm studying to take my state board which is the next step in becoming licensed and working to build my clientele.

How would you define self-care?

Self-care is in essence self-love, making sure I'm healthy mentally and physically, and taking care of my temple (my body).

How do you implement self-care in your life?

To implement self-care physically, I try to get plenty of rest, workout 3-4 times a week and I have an ok diet although it can use some improvement. I try to not over indulge in things like sweets or snacks that I like, but if I'm craving it, I will allow myself to have them. I take great pride in my appearance, and I'm pretty maticulis with my general up keep and grooming. Mentally, I take time to meditate and pray. I read a little bit, I'm a poet who loves to use writing, drawing, sketching, and barbering as my outlets to relieve stress. I use my creativity and try to stay positive. I dont tell myself that there is anything I can't do.

How did you recognize that you needed an outlet? I've always had an interest in the arts as I started out drawing when I was in elementary school. In middle and high school I developed a love of poetry, and I taught myself the Japanese art of paper folding- origami. I've had a curiosity and interest in barbering for as long as I can remember, but I didn't actually pursue it until now. I love all things music, art, etc. If it allows my creative juices to flow, I'll probably like it.

Name: Chad H. Murray

What field are you in: Early Childhood, Pre-K

How many hours a week do you work: 30 hours

Stress level: Minimum

Workload: The workload in the Early Childhood Pre-K field, you are responsible for teaching young children the foundations of letters/sounds, based sight words, handwriting, and etc. The students will only spend one school year in your classroom before they are transitioned into Kindergarten.

Outside of your career, are there any other roles that you fulfill? Outside of teaching, I am very active in two church choirs and modeling. I’ve always been active in the church since a young age. Modeling developed seven years ago when I stepped out on faith. Since the first model call I’ve been modeling and has been a great ride. How would you define self-care? Self-care for myself means taking care of the mind, body, and soul.

How do you implement self-care in your life? I have implemented self-care by finding outlets that keep me in great spirits. I have found working out keeps my mind, body, and soul in positive spirits. I workout at least four times a week and use the weekends for rest, unless I feel like getting that extra pump in. How did you recognize that you needed an outlet? I realized that I needed an outlet when I started to feel my love for teaching leave and when I was placed on high blood pressure medication. Once I took notice of the need for an outlet, my love for teaching returned stronger, and things started to fall back in place. One motto that I have always lived by is more Hebrews 12:1 “...let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”

Name: Jakenzi Lewis

What field are you in: Law Enforcement

How many hours a week do you work: 40-55

Stress level: Medium to High

Workload: Working with the public, enforcing laws.

How would you define self-care? The ability to make sure I am good before dealing with others. I always think of the flight attendant announcement "Make sure you secure your own mask before helping others".

Outside of your career, are there any other roles that you fulfill? Not at the moment.

How do you implement self-care in your life? By relaxing as much as possible. How did you recognize that you needed an outlet? When I become reclusive, I know its time to move around a bit.