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In 2013, Google search trends show the term 'self care' being searched around 15 to 20 times a day (about 5,400+ times a year). In 2023, this has jumped to 80 to 85 times a day or more (about 29,000+ times a year) (Google, 2023).
From a social work perspective, self care is frequently mentioned in relation to the chronic stress and burnout which are common in the profession, with over 63% of workers reporting burnout in a recent study (Holmes et. al, 2021). The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) even added language regarding self care to the Code of Ethics in 2021.
So what is causing burnout? A 2018 Gallup survey of 7,500 employees identified the top 5 causes of burnout to be:
unfair treatment at work,
unmanageable workload,
lack of role clarity,
lack of communication and support from managers, and
unreasonable time pressure (Agrawal, 2018).
Self care is often being promoted by organizations as a preventative or reactionary measure for burnout and sometimes it's mixed up with self soothing practices.
But what if we consider another way?
Self care is really only one piece of the broader care needed.
As we know from concepts of social determinants of health, our overall well-being is shaped by "a web of social influences" (Graham, 2004).
A combination of self soothing, self care, community care and structural care can make up a more comprehensive foundation for well-being.
Self Soothing ( Individual ) Activities that provide distraction or comfort in difficult times Like tv marathons, taking a break, bubble baths or fancy beverages
Self Care ( Individual ) Activities that help you find meaning plus support growth & regulation Like therapy, meditation, boundaries or exercise
Community Care ( Societal ) Networks for systems that don’t inherently support care Like childcare collectives, mutual aid or worker owned co-ops
Structural Care ( Societal ) Systems that support community care, self care & self soothing Like universal healthcare, living wages and supportive eldercare
It's nice to encourage & support the individual care practices, but to build more supportive work environments, organizations should focus on the societal care practices through:
Living wages
Pay equity & transparency
Flexible working options like
Remote/hybrid work
Job sharing
Flexible leave
Working models that share power
Universal design principles
Equitable hiring practices
Facilities health & safety like
Cleaning & sanitizing
Air and water quality
Emergency preparedness
Sustainability
Policies & benefits that support health & well-being like
Health benefits
Family leave
Sick leave
Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
etc.
This perspective that multiple kinds of care are needed to support people and their well-being at work is crucial.
Overall, it's clear that while self-care is an important piece of the puzzle, a broader approach by employers and leadership is needed to address burnout in the workplace.
Notes
Article and graphic created incorporating concepts from:
Deanna Zandt's comic: The Unspoken Complexity of “Self-Care”
Dawn Apgar & Mackaully Parada's research: Missing the Mark? Reframing NASW's Ethical Mandate for Self-Care as a Social Justice Issue
International WELL Building Institute (IWBI): Health & Safety Rating standards
Social Determinants of Health, GoInvo's Visualization: Determinants of Health Visualized
References
Graham, H. (2004). Social Determinants and Their Unequal Distribution: Clarifying Policy Understandings. Milbank Quarterly, 82(1), 101–124. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0887-378x.2004.00303.x
Holmes, M. C., Rentrope, C. R., Korsch-Williams, A., & King, J. Y. (2021). Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Posttraumatic Stress, Grief, Burnout, and Secondary Trauma of Social Workers in the United States. Clinical Social Work Journal, 49(4), 495–504. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-021-00795-y
Agrawal, B. (2018). Employee Burnout, Part 1: The 5 Main Causes. Gallup.com. https://www.gallup.com/workplace/237059/employee-burnout-part-main-causes.aspx
Google. (2023). Google Trends - Self Care. Google Trends. Retrieved April 22, 2023, from https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2013-03-22%202023-04-22&geo=US&q=self%20care&hl=en
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