How can you prevent burnout in yourself and other social workers?

As soon as I start experiencing symptoms, I switch to to other tasks that are not at all related to my field of work. By doing so, it gives me some sort of relief and rejuvenates me physically and emotionally. Burnouts can make you unproductive and must be prevented almost immediately.

I think we need to learn to politely say no to additional work which may cause an overload. Especially if you are a young person in a corporate working environment it's even more challenging. Saying no could be a sign of disrespect or laziness. This is where communication with supervisors and colleagues becomes useful. I may take the additional task but would clearly state when I think I'm able to complete it and why depending on the sense of urgency.

It is also important for professionals to recognize their agency’s overall interests far exceed their interest in retaining employees or their mental wellbeing. If you do not/cannot prioritize your own health in your position - leave. The burn and churn attitude of many community-based services, coupled with the systemic pitfalls of the role (i.e. “stepping stone in career”) make these positions entirely unsustainable for most. Community-based services, particularly case management, is not sustainable for clinician’s wellbeing in the long-term with its current form. I believe as mental health practitioners it is our responsibility to advocate for changes so that this wide-spread issue may be addressed for ourselves and future providers.

Last year I became very intentional about how I took breaks. I made the decision to NOT check emails or social media while on vacation. I modeled this behavior and posted encouraging others to do the same, disconnect. Taking time for ourselves is critical. It's healthy physically and mentally. It allows us to be present, aware and to enjoy time with ourselves/others. I encourage self care; facials/massages, walks, music/podcasts, travel. Take time regularly doing more of what you love/what brings you joy. By making this part of your routine, you won't have to worry as much about signs of burnout because you are proactively taking care of YOU! When you practice self care, you give others permission to do the same and, show them how.

It is important to create your own resilience plan to prevent burnout and protect your mental and physical wellbeing. If you don’t know where to start, talk to your primary care doctor to assist you with behavior health services and screenings to address any wellness and health concerns. You can also seek support from your employer through EAP. Start to include self-care into your daily routine. Self-care can include any activity that is positive and helps to keep you balanced, healthy, and grounded. Review your diet, fluid intake, exercise duration, and ensure you get at least 8 hours of sleep each night. Spend time outside in nature and remember to stay connected to your systems of support. Remember it is okay to ask for help.

Social work is known for being a helping profession. While many people enter the profession with good intentions to be of service to others they fail to be of service to themselves. Many social workers also ultimately work in the nonprofit sector, which has historically overworked and underpaid it's workers. It's important for social workers to understand the history and dynamics of this type of work and be prepared to serve themselves, first, which may mean saying no, delegating, taking paid time off, mental health days etc. If social workers don't take care of themselves first, which includes healthy boundaries then they will not be effective in their work to support and advocate for others.

I find it challenging to do self-care. I have to calendar it like any other appointment. Otherwise i don't get it done. I spend a fair amount of time doing a lot of advocacy for the preservation of licensed "board & care" facilities that provide care for adults who are low-income and who have SMI. While making progress, still no cigar.

One thing I have found helpful is that I recognized early on that I am not a "savior". I simply cannot save everybody. Armed with this mindset, I go into my work knowing that I should set boundaries and limits inasmuch as the work is directly or indirectly rewarding. This enables me to even evaluate set S.M.A.R.T. goals that in the end be useful.

By far, there is no greater elixir for emotional exhaustion and vicarious trauma than to lean on your colleagues and build hopeful support. One of the traps of social work is that tired healers have a tendency to devolve into frustration, hopelessness, and then, apathy. So, together with our colleagues, we share the honor of propping each other up. When we combine that with holding one another to a standard of promoting assertive hopefulness (read: self-affirming goals for a better future) - we protect ourselves and our close allies from the darkness of social despair.

Preventing burnout in social work involves: 1. Setting Boundaries — protect personal time and energy. 2. Peer Support — lean on colleagues for shared experiences. 3. Continuous Learning — refresh skills to maintain efficacy. 4. Self-awareness — detect early signs of stress. 5. Seek Supervision — use mentorship for guidance. Remember, burnout isn't weakness; it's a testament to your commitment. Prioritizing well-being ensures you can serve effectively and compassionately.

How can you help others if you do not help yourself? Make sure you are being shelfful! (Not selfish). Understand who are the people who truly support you and care about your mental and emotional state. We all need help at some point in our lives.

Changing jobs every few years. Trying new types of work within the profession. For example, school social work, government, library, hospitals, early learning, with elders etc. Change it up so that you use different parts of your skill sets while continue to grow and not get stuck in the hardships of our field.

It is helpful to acknowledge that delegation, coordination and synergetic connection will help you go further than you would have. Just like in the saying: "If you want to go fast go alone, but if you want to go far, go with others," it is important to identify strengths of others and leverage on their support to achieve the results you desire. It does not help working in silos because it means duplicating efforts, and minimal impact. But when you seek support and connect with others, there is a greater inclination to be more successful.

I believe this is very important too. Mindfulness along with breathing exercises should be encouraged these days. They are easy, simple and won't require any sophisticated equipment. To relieve burnout and stress, wellness approach is the easiest solution.

Additionally, self-care can also look like leaning into your friends, family, and/or therapist for support. The emotional labor within the profession can be intense, but finding support within your community and prioritizing self-care strategies will enhance your longevity in the field.

Self-care is essential for preventing burnout, especially in a profession like community outreach that can be draining. By taking care of your physical and mental health, you can boost your energy, mood, and resilience. This will help you to stay passionate about your work and avoid becoming overwhelmed. The most important thing is to be consistent with your self-care routine. Even if you can only spare a few minutes each day, it will make a difference.

Self care can mean many things, like the usual: well-balanced diet, work-life balance, good social relationships, vacations, sleeping sufficiently, etc. Additionally, it means doing the things you enjoy, like unwinding from work, going for a swim, enjoying a family trip/gathering, connecting with peers, catching up on fictional readings, and many more.

Our past experiences of being a child and the caretaker of others, while ignoring our own emotions, can significantly increase the risk of burnout in any field. Social work tends to draw the most caring and empathetic individuals who were raised to take care of others before themselves. For example, so many daughters were taking care of their younger brothers and sisters and seeing that their parents were OK. This is especially true if you were raised in a home where your parents were in some way not there to support your emotional needs. You learned to stuff down your own emotions so that you can be available to care for others before yourself. This habit requires relearning of what it means to be “enough” and prioritizing your needs.