Burn Out Tip#4

My burn out tip #4 is establishing a great support system. A support system is a group of people or person that you can confide in to assist with alleviating stress. The American Heritage Dictionary defines a support system as "A network of personal or professional contacts available to a person or organization for practical or moral support when needed."
My support system is comprised of family, close friends, and close co-workers. I am very selective about who I consider my support system.

 My Top 3 Thoughts to consider when creating a support system..
1.Trust- you must trust your support system. You will share intimate thoughts and feelings. So you want someone or people that you don't mind feeling vulnerable to and that you can trust not to tell others. You also have to trust them to be honest with you at all times and not just tell you what you want to hear.

2.Similar background/interest-you support system should be able to relate with you either because they work with you, have similar experiences, have similar working conditions, or have a previous established relationship with you and have your best interest in mind.

3.Availability-your support system should be available for you to listen, to vent, to cry, to laugh,etc. You should have regular access to your support system in the event that you need them via telephone, email, Skye, facebook, in person,etc.

There are many other thoughts to consider when creating a support system but here are my top three. If you have any thoughts please comment about establishing a support system and how it worked or did not work for you. Thanks for listening an until next time remember to always "Make a difference".

Make A Difference
R.Huff

Burn Out Tip#3 "Let it go!"

Have you ever found yourself in a position burning the midnight oil from both ends of the candle? Have you wished there were more hours in the day? Or that you could run off of battery power? You may have too much on your plate and simply need to "let it go." I personally have too much on my plate. If your don't remember from my first post I allow me to reiterate.

I wear many hats in my career of social work. Currently, outpatient therapist for a mental health facility( leading 3 groups a week, case load of 48 and climbing), adjunct social work professor(one night class) contract counselor with a child abuse/domestic violence organization, and contract medical social worker with a home health agency. At first I was managing all my pursuits very well but now they are getting the best of me. Even though everything is flexible one of my contact positions is becoming more strenuous and asking unrealistic responsibilities of me. After feeling like I've almost burned my candle down to the wick were there's nothing but smoke I finally have realized these simple three words "let it go." I have decided that tomorrow evening I will speak with the supervisor and explain to her that I can no longer fulfill my duties as the medical social worker and need to resign. Sure I can use the extra money but not at the cost of not being able to enjoy it. Stress can kill and take away your ability to heal.

It's very important to take care of yourself so that you can take care of your family and your clients. The longer I work in this field I realize that people will suck/drain your energy from you as long as you allow them to. It's impossible to give when your empty and have nothing to give. So my burn out tip# 3 is "let it go." Set priorities, weigh pros/cons, take time for yourself, and "let it go."

Burn Out Tip#2

I have decided to continue my post regarding burn out due to my personal experiences and communication with my colleagues in various disciplines of the health profession (child protection, health care, education, mental health,etc). My second burn out tip would be to exercise. Exercise is a great way to boost mood and restore energy. In the career of helping other it can  be mentally and physically exhausting. There have been days that I have went home and literally did not want to talk to other people nor did I want to answer the phone because I had "poured" out so much into others. I've learned to listen to my body and recognize when I need to take a break.

Here are 5 simple exercises you can do in the office.
1. Stretch-stretching is a great way to loosen up muscles and decrease fatigue from sitting for long periods of time

2.Deep breathing- deep breathing assist with releasing toxins from the lungs as well as serve as a relaxation skill.

3.Walking-Take a walk to the water fountain, bathroom, car, around the office,etc

4.Take the steps-helps tighten the legs and lifts the buttocks

5.Push ups-push ups are a form of resistance training that helps strengthen posture

There are many other exercises you can do to relax your body and your mind but these are a few I do on a daily basis. Also, I feel it's important to have an exercise routine to stay healthy and assist with improving the health of others. Personally, I would recommend joining a gym. Well Huff, I don't have enough money to join a gym. Budget wisely. My gym fee is $19.99 a month. I attend the French Riviera. The reason I say join a gym is because it provides a supportive atmosphere and opportunity to network. I suggest that you shop around, find a gym that fits your budget/location,etc. If you care enough about your health you will use your money to benefit your health and future.

The Mayo Clinic discuss 7 benefits of exercise check the link below
 http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/exercise/HQ01676

Combating Burn Out TIP#1

Burn out is a serious problem in the field of social work and other helping professions. My definition of burn out is when you are tired/bored of your duties in your career, job,etc. You may love what you do but you could simply use a "break" or "change." In this profession it's easy to give and give and give until you have nothing left to give. Even when we have nothing left we continue to give and borrow from others to give. What do we borrow Huff? We borrow our time and energy from other areas in our life that need our attention such as; (family, friends, children, church, God,etc) It's vital to take time for yourself to build up and restore so that you can be a "light" or healer to society.

There are numerous ways to solve this problem. Tip #1 Take a vacation. Even if it's a mini-vacay. Get away! If you are not financially in the position to take a vacation you can be creative and change your atmosphere. Change your atmosphere? What are you saying Huff? I'm saying camp out in the living room with your favorite book, movies, music,etc. Sleep in the guest bedroom, visit a local hotel (in your budget). Set your cell on do not disturb. Tell family and friends your having some quiet time to recharge and replenish you. It's your call!

Currently, I am visiting New Orleans, LA for a business training/meeting. I know I am not the only person that works on a vacay lol. I wouldn't call it work because I love to learn and venture into new projects as well as shop, learn about history, sight-see and just get away from home. If you want to learn more about my new project visit my website..www.goldenchoices.organogold.com the second website is www.cupoffreedom.com

Thanks for stopping by and I will return with more tips to prevent burn out.

Make a Difference
RHuff

Putting out fires and being assertive!

As a social worker I put out fires on a daily basis. I am responsible or at least my clients think I am responsible for handling all their crisis(large or small). I like to call them fires because it you let them grow they consume not only the client but you. I've learned to recongize an acutal fire from a few sparks and how to handle them without being burned.

Last night I recieve two telephone calls from clients(after hours). Normally, I don't entertain aftere hour calls especially if the client is aware of the the crisis hotline procedure. The first call I addressed was from a teenager that was "stressing" because he may be a father. The second call was from my client's daugther stating that my client was being sent to the hospital. I addressed but both calls but kept them client on topic and brief. I choose to answer the calls due to my current mood. I did not have to answer the call because I was not on-call nor would I have felt bad if I didn't accept the call. This morning I recieved a telephone call from a parent that needed transportation and assistance with her son at school. I explained that I had other obligations but as I had an opening I would gladly assist.

A huge mistake for some social workers is trying to "change the world." We can only do so much and if you put all your engery into others and constantly take away from your personal time then you can easily burn out. Burn out is a huge problem many social workers face due to high case loads, pay, job responsibilities, resources,etc. It's important to set proper boundaries and know your strengths and weaknesses. It's ok to say "NO". Say it with me "NO". One more time "NO". Saying no restores power back to you. Saying no was one problem I had in my personal life. Too many times I would take on more responsibilities than I could handle by trying to "help" and "please" other people. I would stress out to the point I would break out in hives. I learned quickly that I needed to become more assertive. While in my undergraduate training one of my classes had a lesson on being assertive. This helped me in a tremendous way. It changed who I was as a person. Change is good and it definately assisted me in lowering my stress level by saying "NO" and not feel guilty.

 I have posted a link from the Mayo Clinic that shares how being assertive can reduce stress.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/assertive/SR00042

Make a difference
RHuff

Professional Dating Dilemma 101

Currently, I am single ( as they come). I teach an "Introduction to Social Work" class on Monday nights. While leaving class last week the secretary stops me. I'm ready to get home. I have worked all day (counseling clients) and lectured approximately 2 hrs plus I have a 45 minute drive home. So as you can see I' beyond talking right now. Being attentive and always ready to offer a listening ear I'm interrogated lol. The secretary informs me that a particular student worker (2years younger than me) wanted to ask a few questions. In my mind I'm like ooook let's get this started so I can get home. The questions asked were "Are you married, age, would you date another faculty member if so here's a number." So still being caught off guard I answer the questions with some hesistation. I try to be as political as possible. I explain that I'm not married but dating, I tell her my age, and my discomfort about dating another faculty member/student worker. She insist that I take the number that was left for me however; I do not give her my number. I brushed it off. Once again, it's a Monday and I'm ready to get home. Days go by and I forget all about the ordeal.

Friday night I'm in the bathtub relaxing after hitting up the gym I recieve a text from an unfamiliar number saying "Hi". I look at the number wondering who it could be. Finanlly, I text back "who are you? The person text their name. I immediately go back to the occurence at school. I tell her I'm in the bed and will chat with her tomorrow. In all honesty I forgot that she texted me and I did not get back with her. She's a very attractive girl but with our working relationship I wouldn't want the atmosphere to be "weird." If we met under different circumstances I would definitely pursue a date however; with our current relationship and boundaries I will use a friendship approach. As a social worker I have learned to be cautious regarding boundaries, communication, and interactions. I tell my students all the time to document. A golden rule in social work is "if it's not documented then it didn't happen." Recently, I had co-worker that was forced to resign for inappropriate boundaries. Allegedly a client made a sexual advance and he turned her down however; she felt led on a filed a complaint. While being under investigation he felt it was in his best interest to resign due to pending and prior conferences due to his behavior. I will talk more about boundaries and my dating dilemmas in a later post. I just wanted to touch basis with you all and seek your feedback and opinion. Until then take care.

Make a difference
RHuff

Introduction to a social worker's many hats

Today is my first blog entry and I wanted to formally introduce myself. Thanks for stopping by my blog.  Take a seat as I share my personal experiences and helpful tips to those currently pursuing a social work degree, currently working in the field, or just want to know more about an exciting career in social work.

My name is Randa Huff, AKA "The Jamaican" as I've been referred to by many of my colleagues. No, I am not "Jamaican" but because of my work ethic and ambition I've earned that nickname. It's a stereotype but I'm proud to embrace it because of my determination mon lol just kidding.

Lets get started. I earned my Bachelor's degree in social work from the University of TN at Martin in May 2007 and my Master's degree in social work from the University of TN at Knoxville (UT Memphis Health Science Center location) in December of 2008. I have had the opportunity to work in the fields of child welfare, school social work, mental health, and other forms of advocacy. Currently, I practice social work as an outpatient therapist for a mental health facility, teach adjunct as a social work professor, contract as a counselor for an abuse/domestic violence center, and complete medical evaluations for a home health agency. As if that's not enough I'm a full-time DSW(Doctorate in Social Work) student via on-line at Capella University (first semester) and LCSW( License Clinical Social Worker) trainee not to mention other projects outside the scope of social work that I may touch on later.

I have learned the skilled quality of multi-tasking to avoid burn-out and frustration that comes along with this field. My goal is to be transparent as possible I share humor, drama, and inspiration that keeps me going in the field of social work. I have been told that I am "blunt, too honest, crazy, hilarious, etc" and the list goes on, but I really aim to shed insight to social work aspirants and offer tips for current social workers. Also, I am seeking feedback, tips, and healthy conversation from different perspectives. Thanks for stopping by my blog and I hope your ready for the ride.

Make a difference
RHuff