Part 1 

• Relating to the issue, I recently began a completely remote position working on a crisis line, and I have definitely noticed the effects of fatigue. I spend eight hours a day in front of a monitor, and on top of that, I am a fully online student, so I end up spending even more time in front of my laptop. That said, my company does make an effort to support us by building in breaks. We get two fifteen-minute breaks, a thirty-minute lunch, and short 3 – 5 minute “movement breaks” throughout the day. These definitely help. 
• The area that resonated most with me is Routine/Fitness. I noticed that when I have opportunities to take breaks or exercise, I feel healthier and more engaged in my work. During work breaks I’ll often step outside and walk around my yard for a few minutes. It helps me feel more relaxed and grounded when I return.
• To prevent moving from health to burnout in this area, I think it’s essential to build intentional structure into the day. For me, that means making the most of scheduled breaks and stepping away from the screen. It’s so tempting to just sit and scroll on my phone, but I’ve learned that small movements like stretching or walking does leave me feeling more refreshed and prepared to re-engage with my work.

Part 2 

• Technology/Office

One issue I relate to is ‘excessive screen time’. Since I’m both a remote worker on a crisis line and a full-time online student, I easily spend 8 – 10 hours in front of a computer every day (sometimes more). Personally, this causes eye strain and my back hurts from sitting in a spot for long stretches of time. To address it, I try to build in short breaks where I completely step away from screens. I’ve also adjusted my screen brightness.

• Training/Professional Development

An issue here is ‘learning online may not be less effective’. I’ve noticed in my own experience that online training sometimes feels less engaging and harder to retain compared to in-person. I would take extra steps to interact more actively, like asking questions in training, reviewing materials afterward, and making study notes for myself. This helps me stay engaged.

• Clinical care

One challenge is ‘different quality of eye contact and engagement during virtual sessions’. In my crisis work, it’s all phone-based, so there are no non-verbals to pick up on. This can feel less connected and sometimes more exhausting because I’m concentrating harder on tone and word choice. To address this, I remind myself to slow down, reflect back what I’m hearing, and take notes during the call. 

• Human connection

I connect most with the ‘cumulative load of technology in work and life’. Since my job, my school, and even my connections with others all run through technology, it can feel fatiguing. To prevent burnout, I try to intentionally schedule “offline” time each day, like eating meals without my phone or TV, or spending a few minutes outside without any devices. Even though it’s tempting to stay plugged in, those moments give me a chance to reset and remind myself that not everything in my life has to be mediated through a screen.

Part 4 

• One of the reactions from the clinicians in the MacDonald article that resonated with me was how working from home improved their work–life balance and gave them more time for things like sleep, exercise, and family. I related to this because, as mentioned, I recently started a remote crisis line position; I’ve already noticed that not having a commute gives me extra time to take care of myself. Like the practitioners in the study, I can use that time to recharge, which is important in emotionally demanding work.
• I do see myself continuing to engage in remote, technology-mediated practice. I think it expands access to clients who otherwise may not seek help, and it provides flexibility. But I also think it requires being very intentional with boundary-setting, like having a designated workspace or set times for breaks, to make it sustainable long-term.

Part 5 

• I liked Ratcliff’s definitions of burnout because they capture both the emotional and physical toll that comes with chronic stress in helping professions. Her description of burnout as a combination of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a low sense of accomplishment felt accurate, and from my own experience I can see how this shows up when work and school demands overlap.
• Ratcliff does make references to a few studies, like those on mindfulness-based self-care for social workers. Reading it made me interested in exploring more of the research, especially because I’ve seen how easy it is for workers in this field to minimize their own needs.
• I’ve never taken the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), but I think it would be useful. I imagine it could help highlight which specific area I need to focus on, and give me a clearer picture of where I might be at risk.

Part 6 

•  I did find Ratcliff’s suggestions useful, especially her focus on mindfulness and yoga as tools for managing stress and preventing burnout. I also appreciated that she framed self-care as a professional responsibility too, since burnout doesn’t only affect workers but also clients and families.
• That said, I think Ratcliff could have expanded her suggestions to include things like manageable caseloads and more supportive supervision. I think that burn out in social work can often come from structural issues within the agency, like underfunding, high turnover, and unrealistic workloads.