Adoption social workers have an extra layer, if you will, of responsibility that people don’t see often. You think adoption, and most conclude the workday as they meet with pregnant women, make an adoption plan, and the hard part is over. In a utopia, maybe. In the real world, the field of social work consists of way more moving pieces than that. There’s no such thing as a perfect beginning to end. However, social workers are the epitome of what it means to be conductors of solving what needs to be solved and wearing whichever hat needs to be worn to support, educate and walk beside Expecting and birth parents, prospective and adoptive parents, adoptees, and extended families. Social workers are awe-spiring, yet sometimes, amazing can come at a cost.
burn·out – /ˈbərnˌout/
: exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration
Maintaining physical, mental, and emotional health is an essential part of navigating ‘social worker burnout’. Many organizations and agencies require self-care to be an essential practice for their social workers; encouraging taking necessary time off and scheduling self-care activities that reduce stress and alleviate job fatigue.
With Covid-19 prevalent and persistent, working remotely doesn’t help either. Remote work has blurred the lines of leaving work at work and keeping your home-life, home. With these tips, Adoptions From The Heart is hoping we can help our social workers navigate social work burnout because let’s be honest. Without all the outstanding work our social workers dedicate to us daily, we would not be able to operate, even close to full circle.
Some Signs that you may be suffering from Social Worker Burnout may include but is not limited to:
- lower job performance
- heightened irritability/detachment from others
- changed nutritional patterns/habits
- loss of focus
- loss of motivation
- pessimistic outlook
- anxiety
- changes in health
- etc.
If these sound familiar, here are some tips to help you deal with and healthily guide those feelings and energy.
- Be sure to set boundaries – having a schedule that allows you to meet client needs, all the while, leaving room for you to have moments of relief is necessary. People often forget that “you can only go as far as your feet will allow you to move. care for your feet and they’ll care for you”. meaning, you must remain the number one priority to be able to serve others.
- Set emotions aside – everyone has a story, some easier than others, which is why it’s important not to be a sponge. It’s alright to be empathetic as long as you’re not allowing emotions to consume you. This can easily cause overwhelming sensations that can quickly lead to burnout.
- Don’t allow your vacation time to go unused – It’s important that you spend just as much time, caring for yourself as you do your clients. Use that vacation time and personal days, as they will keep you feeling refreshed and excited even, to jump back into your work.
- Pace yourself – Try not to force things into your day, rather schedule them. Be mindful of time to avoid scrambling and
- Health and Exercise – This may be the number one tip to preventing burnout. Ensuring you are well-rested and your body is taken care of, will be the first step to having the productive days you wish for, without added layers of stress and worry. This includes having regular eye exams to alleviate unnecessary headaches, wellness checks to make sure everything’s healthy, even messages and chiropractors fall under this category. Take care of your body and it will take care of you.
- Build yourself a great village – great personal and professional support systems are going to be the things that take away a lot of the stresses you experience. It’s in our nature to say we can do things on our own, but the reality is, there’s very little we’ve accomplished without the support of someone. Having people in your corner who love and want to see you succeed will make the journey back to yourself, easier.
We hope these signs and preventions are helpful. During National Social Work Month, we are making it our business to support our Social Workers in all aspects of the job, not just the pretty ones. For more information on wellness tips to prevent Social Worker Burnout, visit https://www.centrum.com/learn/articles/18-wellness-tips-for-a-healthier-you/
