How to Prevent Burnout in Professionals in the Social Service Industry

In order to survive well mentally and emotionally in the work place, the worker must learn to take care of their own mental well being. Learning this will lead to less burn out in the work place and fewer job changes. The social service industry is particularly challenging since job duties most entail caring for others. In order to decrease the instance of burn out in this industry, it is imperative for the worker to learn the following skills.

Things You'll Need

• Dedication to improving mental well being in the work place.

Instructions

Preventing Burnout in the Social Service Industry.

1. Master the skills of stress management, time management and self care. There are many good self help books on each of these topics available which can help immensely if utilized. Resolve to take care of yourself.

2. Know yourself well enough to understand your needs, your ideals and how you react to stress. Realize that everyone has their limits and that a good social service provider knows what their limit is and speaks up when job duties begin to surpass those limits.

3. Restore balance to your life--save time and energy for your family, friends, hobbies and recreational pursuits. If you burn all your energy on work, you will feel unfulfilled as there will be no energy left for any enjoyment in your life.

4. Give up on perfectionism. Learn to let some things go. No one can be prefect in every aspect of their lives. Set your priorities and let other things go until another time.

5. Develop a realistic plan for your career. Realize that there are necessary steps to achieving career goals. Sit down and plan them out and follow through with them one at a time if they are important to you. Give yourself adequate time to achieving each step.

6. Participate in activities with others in your field, especially those that permit people to let their hair down and share real concerns. Keep growing as a professional, even after you complete your formal education by reading, going to workshops and talking to others in similar positions.

7. Avoid getting into a rut. Review your career path every 18 months and make changes, if it appears necessary to do so. Remember that even if you can't move up, you may still be able to move laterally.

Tips & Warnings

• Keeping aware of your specific thoughts, feelings and attitudes regarding your career, is essential in maintaining mental well being especially in those professions in which service to others is the focus. Remember, if you don't take care of yourself, you will not be any good to anyone else in your life.