1. Ask someone in your church or club to be your prayer partner. Take the initiative to ask someone to pray for you regularly. Keep him or her informed of your club’s needs and your personal needs.
  2. Give yourself the freedom to talk with someone about any concerns you may have. Depending on the situation, you could talk to the club coordinator, a veteran leader, or a pastor. Keep communication lines open and get to know fellow club workers. Taking care of concerns will free you up to do your work more effectively.
  3. Take care of your physical health. Many people do not eat well, exercise much, sleep enough or generally care for their physical bodies. Make it a priority to set aside time to keep it in tune. In doing so, you will feel better, have more energy (and patience!) and boost your immune system. To get started or motivated, team up with a friend or co-worker to join you in your exercise plan. Remember: If you are out of commission, you’ll miss out on the input you would like to have in your club members’ lives.
  4. Take care of your emotional health. Many people are involved in a lot of activities. Even Jesus needed to get away and rest for a while. If you find yourself too busy, work on setting priorities. Balance is a key in handling life. Stress can’t be avoided, but it can be managed. Expend your energies in activities that inspire you or use your creative abilities. Develop close friendships to avoid isolation in your life. Find some relaxation techniques that work for you.
  5. Take care of your spiritual health. Consider journaling. Pour out your heart to God. Meditate on God’s goodness and grace. Read a devotional book to keep focused on the most important things in life. Don’t neglect reading God’s Word and praying for yourself and your club members. 
  6. Go on a personal retreat. Sometimes only a day or two away is needed to recharge your batteries. Consider a weekend retreat where you can be by yourself to commune with God. If you are unable to do that, try to work out a one-day (or partial-day) “sabbatical” in the middle of the week. The idea is to be totally alone with God to refresh yourself. Take time to read God’s Word, talk to God in prayer, and listen to his voice. This is a great time to meditate and journal your thoughts.
  7. Accept yourself. None of us is perfect; we are all flawed human beings. Accept yourself with all your foibles and inconsistencies, just as Christ has accepted you. Try laughing at yourself; that can ease tension and frustration. When you are at peace with yourself, you are in good shape to minister to needy kids and accept them with all their foibles too.