The Importance of Self-Care for Social Workers

A career as a social worker can be extremely fulfilling, but the very nature of the work can lead even the most resilient professionals to burnout. With this in mind, social workers (and aspiring social workers) must learn to prioritize self-care in their own lives. Not only can self-care lead to improved physical and mental health, but it can also empower social workers to overcome the everyday stressors of the job.

Why Self-Care Matters for Social Workers

Self-care is important in any profession, but it's especially critical for social workers to get into a sustainable self-care routine because of the emotional toll this line of work can take otherwise.

Understanding the Emotional Toll of Social Work

Social workers get into the field to make a positive difference in the lives of others, but unfortunately, these professionals are exposed to a great deal of their clients' traumas and stresses. When paired with the strong sense of empathy and compassion that social workers tend to have for others, this makes it easy for the work to take an emotional toll on professionals over time. 

In fact, in one study of social workers, 73 percent of those surveyed reported that they experienced elevated levels of emotional exhaustion. 

Recognizing the Signs of Burnout

Because of the mental, emotional, and even physical toll that a career in social work can take, professionals in this field need to recognize early signs of burnout to take action. Some common signs to watch out for include:

• Trouble sleeping
• Decreased productivity
• Feeling detached from work tasks
• Poor stress responses (like drinking or overeating to cope with work-related stress)
• A loss of enthusiasm or passion in one's work

The Benefits of Prioritizing Self-Care

Many social workers experience burnout at some point during their careers; the key is to recognize the signs of it early on and to take action against it. By prioritizing regular self-care activities, professionals may stand a better chance of preventing burnout in social work while improving their stress management and fighting social work compassion fatigue.

Practical Self-Care Strategies for Social Workers

So, what are some practical self-care tips for social workers to implement in their own lives? Here are a few strategies to keep in mind that can work wonders with stress management in social work.

Setting Healthy Boundaries

We've already addressed the inherent challenges of compassion fatigue in social work. As much as you want to help your clients, compassion fatigue prevention is critical to avoiding burnout, so focus on establishing healthy boundaries between your work life and home life. For many social workers, this means making every effort to avoid bringing work home.

Managing Stress Through Mindfulness and Relaxation

Another excellent tip for managing stress in social work is to start using mindfulness, relaxation, and even meditation exercises when you begin to notice your stress levels elevating. The great thing about these exercises is that you can do them at work or home, and even just a few minutes of meditation or deep breathing can make a huge difference in your mood and stress levels.

Prioritizing Physical Health

Another critical aspect of self-care for social workers is making your physical health a priority. As part of your job, you might spend a fair amount of time sitting at your desk, but a sedentary lifestyle can wreak havoc on your health and well-being. In addition to setting boundaries and focusing on mindfulness for social workers, you should also take steps to protect your physical health with regular exercise and a nutritious diet.

Seeking Support and Professional Supervision

Finally, don't be afraid to reach out for support when you need it. Social work is inherently stressful, and there will be times when you could use a little extra guidance or a shoulder to lean on. Be sure to rely on your support network when you need it, and consider finding a great therapist or counselor to help you talk through some of your most pressing professional and personal challenges.

Building a Sustainable Self-Care Routine

It's easy enough to read about self-care practices for social workers, but what does it take to actually create and stick to a self-care routine long-term?

Identifying Individual Self-Care Needs

First, keep in mind that everybody is different. What you consider to be self-care (like going for a run) may not be everybody's cup of tea. What's important is figuring out ways to cater to your own self-care needs.

Integrating Self-Care into Daily Work Life

Likewise, finding ways to incorporate self-care not just at home but at work can make all the difference as well. Whether it's something as simple as upgrading your desk chair to something more ergonomic or using part of your lunch break to get some fresh air, small changes at work can add up to make a big difference.

Utilizing Organizational Support for Self-Care

Last but not least, be sure to take advantage of organizational resources that may be available to you. This may include mental health and counseling resources and professional communities where social workers can meet and de-stress. You may also want to check in with your employer's human resources team for additional support in making self-care a priority in your work.

Overcoming Barriers to Self-Care in Social Work

By their very nature, social workers tend to prioritize the needs of others above themselves. While this sense of compassion is part of what makes for great social workers, it can also be a barrier to self-care.

Addressing Guilt and Professional Expectations 

Some social workers feel a sense of guilt in prioritizing self-care. They may feel like their time is better spent making a difference in other people's lives and that putting themselves second is an expectation of the profession. In reality, social workers can only perform their best when they're at their best.

Dealing With High Workloads and Time Constraints

Being in social work often means juggling heavy caseloads with high workloads and tight time constraints. Because of this, some social workers may feel that they simply don't have the time to make self-care a priority. The reality, however, is that even a few minutes of self-care per day can make a difference by reducing stress and preventing burnout, so it's always worth making time in your busy schedule.

Reducing Stigma Around Mental Health for Social Workers

In many professions (social work included), there remains a bit of a stigma surrounding mental health. If you're struggling, you may not want others to know and you may not even want to acknowledge it yourself. However, the only way to fight this unfair stigma is to break it. By talking openly about the mental health stigma and reaching out for support when you need it, you can take care of yourself while forging a better path for others in the field.

The Long-Term Impact of Self-Care on Social Work Practice

While prioritizing self-care in social work may be challenging, there are many long-term benefits to doing so.

Enhancing Job Satisfaction and Career Longevity

Although a career in social work can be incredibly rewarding, it can also come with a fair amount of stress and exposure to trauma. By committing to a sustainable self-care routine, social workers can find ways to handle their stress in a healthy and productive way. This could, in turn, lead to higher levels of job satisfaction and greater career longevity. In fact, one study of self-care practices among social workers in China found that "self-care practice was revealed as indispensable for social workers' retention."

Improving Client Outcomes Through Well-Being

Have you ever heard the phrase "you can't pour from an empty cup"?

If you're not taking care of yourself, you can't expect to help others. When you make self-care a priority, you can become the best version of yourself. From there, you may be in a better position to serve your clients and improve their outcomes.

Fostering a Culture of Self-Care in the Social Work Profession

As more social workers begin to prioritize self-care in their professional lives openly, this can demonstrate to aspiring social workers that it's not only okay but necessary to put yourself first. Over time, this can foster a culture of self-care and self-preservation across the entire profession that may help to reduce rates of burnout.

Kickstart Your Career in the Right Social Work Program!

As a social worker, you're constantly thinking of others and tending to their needs. It's what you signed up for, after all. Still, to be the best version of yourself both in your professional life and personal life, you have to put your needs first. By filling your own cup, you'll have more to give to your clients and the people in your life who matter most.

Still looking for the right social work degree program that will prepare you for the realities of the field while embodying the Christian values that are so important to you? Indiana Wesleyan University's Division of Behavioral Sciences is proud to offer a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) that can prepare you to make a positive impact in various roles with coursework in human behavior, social policy, statistical analysis, and more.

Get in touch to learn more about this faith-integrated curriculum and how it could prepare you for resilience in social work. Ready to take the next step? You can apply for admission now!

Sources

https://www.indwes.edu/academics/cas/school-of-nursing-and-health-sciences/

https://www.socialworkers.org/Practice/Infectious-Diseases/Coronavirus/Self-Care-for-Social-Workers

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10987033

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10355843/

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/21582440231197318