Self-Care Practices for Community Workers
As front-line community workers, it can sometimes feel like we are in constant crisis care. The demanding nature of the job, ongoing problem solving, managing billable hours and working in distressing situations.
Exposure to intersecting high-risk factors can take a toll in these compassion care roles. We’re talking about Occupational Therapists, Social Workers, Positive Behavioural Specialists, Nurses, Youth Workers, Mental Health and Psychosocial Recovery Workers, for example, people who care for and support others to improve their well-being.
Social service professions often require higher levels of empathy than other jobs. Loved ones might tell us to "just switch off, leave your work at work," but we are drawn to this industry because we care. We’ve found in our experience as social workers and support coordinators that compartmentalising is not always achievable, hence why regular self-care is vital.
Self-care isn’t selfish
“I don’t have time for self-care” is a phrase heard alarmingly often. Self-care feels indulgent as the to-do list keeps mounting and time slips away. Unfortunately, self-care gets a bad wrap that you put your needs ahead of others. But you can’t pour from an empty cup. Self-care is important for everyone, no matter your profession, but it’s imperative in an industry where emotion is tied to the work.
The cost of caring
What is compassion fatigue? Compassion fatigue is linked to vicarious trauma and is a precursor to burnout without adequate measures to look after ourselves. Exposure to crisis, trauma and caring for people daily can cause deep physical and emotional exhaustion. It’s noted by a considerable change in your ability to feel empathy for the people you work with and characterised by cynicism and lack of enjoyment at work.
What does self-care look like?
Your self-care practice might include meditation and going for a walk, but it also includes things like boundary setting, prioritising what makes you happy and creating routines to suit your needs. If we only view self-care from a commercial perspective, we limit all the transformative effects it could have on us.
Self-care tips for front-line community workers:
Plan your personal self-care practice, if it's left when you have time, it's not going to happen.
Establishing the 'space between.' This could look like stepping away from your desk in between clients, taking a few minutes between calls for yourself to recentre.
Practise self-compassion by acknowledging how you feel after a distressing incident. Talk to a colleague after an upsetting home visit or phone call.
Set boundaries between work and home; create a ritual between work and home that signifies the start and end of the working day.
Ask for help, if your caseload feels exhausting, raise concerns with your team leader or ask for more supervision.
If available from your workplace, utilise their Employee Assistance Program or if it is within your means, consider chatting to a psychologist.
You advocate and care for others around the clock, don't forget to advocate for yourself.