Most people know their own body temperature while having no idea about the state of their emotional, mental or spiritual well-being during normal much less during abnormal situations. As a mental health provider, disaster educator, and trauma counselor I consider it an ethical issue to know what's going on with me before I dare ask a client what is going on with them! My personal performance standards demand that I know my own self so I can take care of me before I have the audacity to help anyone else. Otherwise I might be unconsciously hoping my clients will take care of me rather than me serving them.
I won't work with anyone if I'm not at least at 86% of my best self. I don't expect to be at 100% every day. I allow for fluctuations. But at a certain level I need to take care of me first. Self-care is not antithetical to being a professional, a helper, a manager, an employee or a useful human being. If you don't take care of you, who will?