My personal self-care plan is a work in progress. As a working full-time student, I have quickly realized how important daily self-care can be, even if it is only a small portion of my day.

My daily self-care plan includes unplugging emails, planning, and researching for an hour daily. I usually unplug in the evening, but I also try to enjoy 30 minutes in the morning to myself. During my time, I like to read, spend time with my children or watch a movie. I have recently discovered short Mindfulness exercises to ground myself and begin the day.

The largest part of my self-care routine is my mindset. I have to remind myself why I am in the education profession and why I am journeying into the competitive world of academia. As an Indigenous student, I struggled with my identity and feeling a sense of belonging in the education system. I have discovered that the reason why I am so passionate about helping Indigenous students succeed through my research and practice is to make a difference for as many students as possible. When I reach Indigenous students, I know I have made a positive impact, which alone fulfills my purpose. I remind myself of that feeling whenever I am feeling overwhelmed and stressed. I am so grateful to be able to be in a position to help students the way I needed it. There is still so much work to be done for Indigenous education and reconciliation, and I am thankful to be part of that work!