You’re a social worker dealing with stressful situations. How can you maintain perspective?

1 Acknowledge your feelings

The first step to maintaining perspective is to recognize and accept your feelings. You may experience a range of emotions, such as anger, sadness, frustration, guilt, or compassion. These are normal and valid responses to the situations you encounter. However, they can also cloud your judgment and interfere with your decision-making. Therefore, it is important to acknowledge your feelings and process them in a healthy way. You can do this by talking to a trusted colleague, supervisor, or therapist, writing in a journal, or practicing mindfulness.

2 Set boundaries and limits

Another way to maintain perspective is to set boundaries and limits for yourself and others. You may feel the pressure to take on more cases, work longer hours, or respond to every request. However, this can lead to burnout, exhaustion, and resentment. Therefore, it is essential to establish and communicate your boundaries and limits clearly and respectfully. You can do this by prioritizing your tasks, saying no when necessary, delegating or asking for help, and taking breaks.

3 Seek support and feedback

A third way to maintain perspective is to seek support and feedback from your peers, supervisors, and mentors. You may feel isolated or overwhelmed by the challenges you face. However, you are not alone. There are others who share your experiences and can offer you guidance, advice, or empathy. Therefore, it is beneficial to seek support and feedback from your colleagues and mentors. You can do this by joining a peer support group, attending supervision or mentoring sessions, or participating in professional development opportunities.

4 Reflect and learn

A fourth way to maintain perspective is to reflect and learn from your practice. You may encounter situations that challenge your beliefs, values, or skills. However, these are also opportunities for growth and improvement. Therefore, it is helpful to reflect and learn from your practice. You can do this by reviewing your cases, identifying your strengths and areas for development, setting goals and action plans, and evaluating your outcomes and progress.

5 Celebrate and appreciate

A fifth way to maintain perspective is to celebrate and appreciate your achievements and contributions. You may focus on the problems, difficulties, or failures in your work. However, these are not the only aspects of your work. There are also successes, accomplishments, and positive impacts. Therefore, it is important to celebrate and appreciate your achievements and contributions. You can do this by acknowledging your efforts and results, rewarding yourself for your hard work, expressing gratitude for your opportunities and resources, and receiving recognition and praise from others.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?