Reflection on Fatigue 

In my personal experience with fatigue related to technology-mediated practice, the impact on my body is a slow boil. My eyes get progressively heavier throughout the day. My attention and ability to focus on the screen decreases throughout the week. I often don’t feel the fatigue until it has thoroughly set in. Before reading the articles, I  thought about how technology is so integrated into my personal life that fatigue has started to feel normal. 

When I think of fatigue related to technology-mediated practice I also think about what one can do to change their experience. For example, getting blue blocker glasses or a standing desk. Others have suggested these and I think I might enjoy sitting on an exercise ball at my desk sometimes. I know taking walks, stretching, and other forms of breaks work well to reduce fatigue. It can feel futile to think about managing technology related fatigue because technology is so present in our lives.

Discussion of Hilty et al. (2023)

Figure 1 (Hilty et. el., 2023)

I chose the section shown in Figure 1 because I was surprised that physical capital is an aspect of health. Not having access to an adequate office space or reliable internet connection has caused stress for me in my work. It is validating to see that an area of professional health is a supportive site. The site and technology that we work with is the vessel for our work and it can be so frustrating when that vessel is not working. 

To prevent burnout in this area, I can have short-term and long-term goals that foster health. I can also use my creativity to remain flexible in my environment. 

Three short term goals are:

• Care for my laptop using protective coverings and regular maintenance 
• Live in a place where I have access to my desk until I graduate in May
• Change internet providers so poor connection does not disturb client sessions

Three long term goals are:

• Work in an in-person setting 
• Have a permanent office/art space in my house 

Retain a savings account specifically for technical expenses

Discussion of Hilty et. al. (2023) Table 2

Technology and Office Adjustments: Selection of primary technology

I currently do not have enough funding for an office space. My home has space for my desk. My partner and I are planning to move in with my partner’s parents to save money. My partner’s parents’ house does not have enough space for my desk. This will be a challenge, as I am training to be a therapist and I have client sessions. I also feel grounded by my desk because it is the only space in the house that is “just mine”. The thought of losing my desk has been causing me stress. 

I will manage this by suggesting that my partner and I find other solutions for saving money. We will look at renting an apartment that is cheaper but still has space for me to have a desk. I am also going to try and find a job that is in-person after I graduate so I am not relying on my home space to have an office. I am also going to have a yard sale and work on down-sizing my stuff. I have more things than I need and it would be more possible to live in a smaller space with less stuff.

Training: Social and interpersonal relationships

I may face fatigue from not socializing enough with my peers. I can see how remote practice could make it harder to cope with helplessness. On days that I am not talking with peers I sometimes reach for parasocial connection like scrolling on Instagram. The combination of doomscrolling and reduced venting could turn into preventable helplessness and hopelessness.

Making time for connection in small ways is a manageable change in routine. I enjoy video chatting with classmates while we do homework and it is fun to talk about classes. Laughing with peers about work is a relief and I can use humour when possible to build connections. My internship recently offered a $15 reimbursement for anyone who attended a virtual intern social. I was not able to attend, but I did appreciate the use of a reward to encourage connection. 

Clinical Care: Engagement and communication problems

I speak fast and info-dump. While in therapy sessions, I use self-awareness and mindfulness to ensure this does not happen with clients. If I am experiencing fatigue, it takes more effort to use self-awareness and read non-verbal cues. Virtual therapy sessions make it harder to catch non-verbal cues so I am already working harder to build connections (Hilty et. al., 2023)

I can develop a professional identity that is rooted in self awareness and slowed speech. When I intentionally speak slower, I am more present in the conversation. While clients are talking to me, I use meditation to pull my attention away from my thoughts and back into my body. I am also interested in how a client’s natural environment, such as the plants and bodies of water around them, can be integrated into their health plan. This has the potential to offer a faux in-person approach.

Human Factors: Amplification (shift from seldom to frequent use)

Hilty et. al. (2023) suggest that workers modify tasks to reduce fatigue. I can expend less energy on my work by being concise.

Reflection on Macdonald (2022)

These two quotes stood out the most to me.

“I’m getting more exercise and getting more sleep. I feel like we’re getting healthier. I feel like my relationships improved. Maybe just like more time for just things I enjoy in general. I’m reading more. I’m watching more shows in the evening.” (Social Worker 8, Kaiser Permanente Northwest)

“What I miss are face-to-face interactions with colleagues and being able to consult very easily with someone. And just to maintain that kind of human warm contact with your colleagues. And being able to consult with and be around like-minded individuals and get support from or give support.” (MD 9, Kaiser Permanente Northwest)

These reactions resonated with me because they highlight the complex impact of remote work on work-life balance. Social Worker 8 describes benefits that I have also experienced. In contrast, MD 9 expressed a sense of disconnection, missing the ease of in-person collaboration. These perspectives reflect the reality of remote work. While it can enhance personal wellness, it may also diminish professional connection and support.

I enjoy working remotely and I can see technology-mediated practice being a big part of my practice. My energy is quickly depleted while I am out of the house. Overall, working from home requires less energy output than working in the field.

Reflection on Ratcliff (2024)

I agree with Ratcliff (2024) that “burnout” is a buzzword. I appreciate that she illustrates multiple dimensions of burnout and how the impact is complex. Showing how families are impacted by worker burnout shows a system mindset. Providing examples of physical manifestations of burnout like illness shows how the impact of burnout can be unexpected and latent. This definition helped to clarify what exactly burnout is besides a trending concept.

After reading the article, I took a free version of the MBI (Maslach Burnout Inventory). The results indicate that I am at a higher risk for burnout. More than the results, the questions were interesting. For example, some of the questions asked about work stability and predictability. I had not considered predictability to be a protective factor for burnout.

I enjoy both mindfulness and hatha yoga. I think both are helpful at preventing my burnout. They both increase the amount that I am checking in with my body. Even if it is only 5 minutes, my back and hips do not hurt as much when I stretch daily. Self-awareness, which we are learning to cultivate in several classes is similar to mindfulness. Ancient healing modalities have so much to offer. I wonder if they are suggested so much as a “fix” for ailments that it is harder to engage with them fully. 

The Feelings Wheel is one tool I have used to reduce burnout. Knowing what I am feeling in a deeper way has helped me create more effective interventions for myself. 

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