Blog post 4: Burnout…. are we really at #4 already?!

1. Ironically prior to reading this weeks articles I was finding myself grappling with the idea I was experiencing some burn out with technology. Between work and school I am spending about 10 or more hours a day at a screen minimum. So it was a very fitting week of reading for myself. For context I am a work from home (WFH) employee full time for the past 8 years. So, pre pandemic and I have transitioned between positions and promotions within that time. Initially I WFH but I was doing community based work so I spent about half my week out doing face-to-face visits and the other half home on documentation and case work. In another position I spent about 1/3 of my time out doing presentation and community outreach. I think some variation of these was my ideal balance in retrospect. Currently my position is WFH with some travel but I spend a lot of days in what I call ‘death by Teams meetings” type days, where I go from one meeting to next for 4 to 5 hour blocks of time in my day. I find my eye are tired and my brain is foggy by end of day. My experience is personal and I do find some comfort in my co-workers sharing their own experience as we naviaged work life balance together. Despite this burnout and current experience the work life balance of not commuting and the added time it give me with my children I do not see myself back in an office setting in the foreseeable future.
2. Looking at the continuum from health to burnout in Hilty, I would say Attitude/Outlook resonated most with me because I could see myself spread from health to burnout in this area. While on one end of the spectrum I feel connected and “part of” my work and school work at the other end of this spectrum in some moments I feel “off”  and only effective part of my time. In order to prevent moving further along from health to burn out I could evaluate my projects and prioritization to emphasize mental wins and feeling of progression.
3. Looking t Table 2 of Hilty, technology and office adjustments seems to be the area I have put the most focus. Things in my own control I have addressed with standing desk, fidget toys, ergonomic chairs, key boards and multiple screens for my physical environment. Apps for reminders to stretch and building in time on calendar. I walk on the path in my community during listening only meetings. Days with time built in to work outside the home to break up week. But on the other hand things out of my control like VPN issues and data base failures and updates also factor into this area. Being flexible and adjusting to sudden changes is a key factor to prevent technology fatigue in this area.
4. Of the opinions in the MacDonald article social worker 1 and 2 resinated most with me. Social worker 1 because I also work best independently and enjoy not going having to participate in as much socially. Social worker 2 resinated with me in regards to the type of work and how taxing emotionally and mentally it can be. This was the main factor that lead me to my current position and finding more joy in macro setting. I do see myself engaging in remote technology medicated practice because for my personality and life style the benefits outweigh the negatives.
5. I believe Ratcliff definition of burnout is a short and sweet description of a complex condition. While accurate working in social work and balancing is the issue, solutions and remedies are made even more complex when balancing self and those you serve. The “stress without let up” was very accurate in my experience. (haha) I felt motivated to read the Cooper study and learn more around the depersonalization, this has always been something that peaked my curiosity. Because we all enter these fields and dedicate ourselves to the years of education for a reason and passion but I have worked with and around persons who I have thought “why are you here.” I have never taken the MBI but I googled it and would like to considering where I find myself currently. I sent it to my team at works Teams group chat.
6. Yes, I do think the suggestions Ratcliff provided are useful in preventing burnout but they also involve time and commitment to mindset, being proactive in approach to burnout. This can be a task that is easier said than done. I used to have set yoga practice days and this reminded me I need to prioritize them in my week the way I did in the past because it was very helpful professionally and personally. Additionally I believe engaging with your support system, when you work in a helping profession it can be important to access help for yourself the way we encourage our clients to do.