Caring Transitions

Maintaining a healthy work-life balance when working in dance is a tricky balancing act, challenged even further when taking on caring responsibilities such as becoming a parent or caring for an elderly or vulnerable adult.

The University of Chichester’s Programme Leader for Dance Science, Edel Quin MSc FHEA, herself a parent, offers some strategies on finding balance.

Edel Quin MSc FHEA

Photo: JK Photography

To say that our profession is not well-known for promoting selfcare, rest and recovery is probably an understatement! I have worked hard, and struggled often to find a balance as a mother, as an educator, and as an academic. My logical mind and researchinformed brain knows that I must ‘attend to my own oxygen mask first’ otherwise I will not be able to be there for others, but my habitual characteristics do not always follow this instruction.

Along the way I have learned to recognise the warning signs that come with spreading myself too thinly and I have built up some tools and strategies that help me readdress the balance.

Here are five tips that I offer, from my experiences, which would ideally form part of a daily routine, both in the ‘good times’ and the challenging times:

1. The self-care transition

Take 5 minutes at the end of your working day, before you return to your caring duties, which are for you. That might be as simple as sitting in your car for 5 minutes and finding peace, calm and stillness, or taking 5 minutes to listen to a quick burst meditation, or a song of your choice that supports your desired mood, or using this time to journal your thoughts and experiences from the day.

2. Stay hydrated and always stop to eat

Keep a movement practice of our own to balance our physical and mental wellbeing – to be the receiver of a movement experience, rather than the giver.

Eating on the go/while multitasking is common in the dance profession, but taking a minimum of 10-15 minutes to stop completely and be present while you refuel is important for wellbeing and gut health. Staying hydrated will support concentration and focus.

3. Set clear boundaries and communicate these

At work, at home, with your colleagues and with your loved ones. People - children included - respond to boundaries that have been clearly communicated.

4. Find a movement practice that is for you

Often we are in the dance profession because we have a passion for movement. Unless we are still working dancers, it is likely that we are either not moving as much as we used to, or the moving we are doing is teaching others. It is important to

5. Mindful gratitude

Try using an app or a journal to pause the mind and reflect on what is good, what have you to be thankful for. People in dance are often conditioned to recognise what needs to be fixed, what could be better, and we forget to acknowledge what we already have. Take time to recognise the good.

To finish I offer two further points… investing in professional help should always be recognised as a valuable option. Seeking support from regular sessions with a qualified life coach, or trained counsellor or psychologist will be worth the investment if you can find a professional that works well with you and your needs. And finally, be the role model that many of us did not have. Putting your self-care visibly front and centre will hopefully inspire your colleagues, your friends, your loved ones, and your students to do the same.

Further information

www.chi.ac.uk/dance

Illustrations: Dani Bower