1. Before reading the articles, my understanding of fatigue and technology-mediated practice was largely shaped by personal experience specifically through observing my partner, who works from home for a tech company. I’ve noticed how technology fatigue affects her daily life, especially since her schedule shifted from typical hours to a 12 pm to 9 pm shift. The long hours sitting in front of a computer, combined with the demands of remote work, seem to take a real toll on her energy and well being. Personally, I’ve never been comfortable with the idea of working from home on a computer all day, and seeing her experience has shaped my view on how technology-mediated work can contribute to fatigue and burnout. This firsthand exposure gave me a grounded perspective on the challenges addressed in the articles.
2. The area that resonated most with me from Hilty et al.’s continuum is “Workload and Pace.” As someone who works actively with kids every day, I know how demanding it can be to stay engaged and handle multiple responsibilities without burning out. At the same time, I’ve seen my partner struggle with technology fatigue from her remote tech job, especially as her work hours shifted to longer, less predictable shifts. Both of our experiences show how important it is to set clear boundaries, take regular breaks, and prioritize self-care to prevent moving from health to burnout. By managing workload thoughtfully and creating space to recharge, I believe it’s possible to maintain well-being even in high-demand roles.
3. In the area of clinical care, one issue that stands out for me is managing the emotional and cognitive demands of working with children with autism in home services, especially given the severity and complexity of their needs. Technology plays a big role in documentation, communication, and coordination of care, but it can also add to the fatigue when it feels like it interferes with direct, meaningful interaction with the kids. To prevent tech fatigue, I focus on setting clear boundaries between the time spent on technology and the hands-on work with the children. This means prioritizing face-to-face engagement whenever possible and using technology efficiently and intentionally to support care rather than distract from it. Balancing these demands helps me stay present and effective while protecting my own well-being.
4. Reading the opinions of clinicians in the MacDonald article, I resonated with the mixed feelings they expressed about remote, technology-mediated practice particularly the challenges around maintaining work-life balance and managing fatigue. Like many of them, I see both the benefits and drawbacks of this mode of work. I can definitely see myself pursuing a career as a clinical social worker where technology will play a huge role, from virtual meetings to data collection and note-taking. While technology offers greater flexibility and access to clients, I recognize the importance of setting boundaries and practicing self-care to prevent burnout. Overall, I believe that with thoughtful use and balance, technology can be a valuable tool in clinical social work, and I’m prepared to adapt to its evolving role.
5. I found Ratcliff’s definitions of burnout to be very accurate and reflective of my own experiences. Burnout isn’t just about feeling tired; it’s a deep sense of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion that can affect all areas of life. I see this in my own life as I balance working out, having a family, and maintaining an active lifestyle. I also observe burnout in my mother, who travels frequently for work, and in my partner, who often goes to bed late and sleeps in due to the fatigue from her demanding remote job. Ratcliff’s discussion of various studies motivated me to explore this research further to better understand burnout and ways to manage it effectively. While I have never taken the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), I would be interested in taking it after this reading and research to gain a clearer picture of my burnout risk and areas to focus on for self-care.
6. I do think many of Ratcliff’s suggestions for preventing burnout were useful, especially those emphasizing self-care, setting boundaries, and seeking support from colleagues or supervisors. These strategies are essential for maintaining balance and protecting mental health. However, I also think some additional suggestions could have been included, such as a greater focus on organizational changes like workload management, regular supervision focused on burnout prevention, and a culture that encourages taking breaks and mental health days. Additionally, incorporating mindfulness practices or stress reduction techniques into daily routines could further support burnout prevention.
References:
Hilty, D. M., Groshong, L. W., Coleman, M., Maheu, M. M., Armstrong, C. M., Smout, S. A., Crawford, A., Drude, K. P., & Krupinski, E. A. (2023). Best practices for technology in clinical social work and mental health professions to promote well-being and prevent fatigue. Clinical Social Work Journal, 51(3), 211–245. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-023-00865-3
MacDonald, L. M.-H. (2022). Impact of working from home on addressing practitioner burnout and work–life balance in mental health. The Permanente Journal, 26(2), 77–82. https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/21.186
Ratcliff, M. (2024). Social workers, burnout, and self-care: A public health issue. Delaware Journal of Public Health, 10(1), 26-29. https://doi.org/10.32481/djph.2024.03.05
Hi! I liked how you connected your personal observations (like your partner’s experience working remotely) to the readings. I also appreciated your point about balancing hands-on client interaction with the tech-based parts of the job. The more time we spend documenting or navigating systems, the easier it is to lose that human connection that makes the work meaningful. I thought your mention of setting clear boundaries stood out, too. It’s such a simple idea but one that’s hard to follow through with, especially in roles that blend home and work environments.
Hi, I appreciated your blog post and the perspective of an outsider looking in and experiencing a partners effort to navigate technology demanding job. I liked the mention of boundaries and working in a culture that prioritizes breaks and mental health days. This had been something I had not thought of during writing my own blog post, but leadership and work culture plays such a vital role in work/life satisfaction. Great point!
Nikalya,
Nice job with this post. I can imagine watching your partner struggle, not just with tech-mediated work, but a changing work schedule, has been difficult to watch. I think it’s almost more of a struggle when technology affects someone we care about, as much as when it’s in our reality.
You answered all the questions clearly and connected the points in the reading to your personal goals and experiences. The one thing I would suggest is that while all of those things make great sense, it is easier to talk about it than it is to do it. I agree with your page and workload discussion, there are times when we don’t control that, right? And then the required workload and pace are placed up against our own standards of how we should do the work. It can be a dilemma and difficult to change.
Nice job on the post.
Dr P