A Study Guide for A-Plus Social Worker Self-Care: A is for...
by Erlene Grise-Owens, Ed.D., LCSW, MSW, MRE, lead co-editor of The A-to-Z Self-Care Handbook for Social Workers and Other Helping Professionals
December marks semester’s end, with final exams. Recently, I met with a former student who’s navigating a particularly demanding phase. Yet, she’s flourishing! Reflecting on her professional path, she reported, “The most important thing I learned in my MSW curriculum was how to practice self-care!” Now, she realizes even more the impact of this foundational education and the importance of continued learning about self-care for career success and life satisfaction.
Here’s a Study Guide for A-Plus Social Worker Self-Care!
Awareness, Accountability, and Attention
Awareness is the first A of self-care. As Eileen Krueger wrote in The A-to-Z Self-Care Handbook, “The first step in any growth process or skill development is awareness” (p. 23). This awareness includes both reflecting on our need for self-care and how to practice it. For example, learning about self-compassion enhances self-care.
Accountability is another integral aspect of self-care. Accountability can include putting self-care commitments on calendars, using various apps, instituting a team culture of self-care, having self-care goals as part of professional development, and recruiting accountability partners.
Self-care requires consistent, ongoing attention. One key strategy: Develop a specific self-care plan, with accountability measures. (See A-to-Z Handbook’s self-care plan form and example.) Also, build on initial awareness, by integrating resources such as blogs, podcasts, books, and other resources into your routine. And, consider contributing to the self-care movement!
How can you enhance awareness about self-care? Be accountable in your self-care? Give ongoing attention? Inform and support your self-care?
Actions, Attitudes, and Approaches
Self-care involves actions! A myth about self-care is that it’s costly—e.g., gym memberships, cruises, and spas. Here’s a starter kit for self-care on the cheap. And, look for an upcoming post about professional self-care.
Actions are essential. At the same time, another myth about self-care is that it’s something to add to an already full “to-do” list. Attitude is the A that counters over-Doing self-care. For example, an attitude of gratitude is a powerful form of self-care.
Building competence in self-care requires taking informed approaches. Wade Drury gives an excellent example of how to apply the Person-in-Environment (PIE) approach to self-care. Having a systems approach informs how individual self-care and organizational accountability interact. And, Elisa Kawam emphasizes a holistic (human being, not human doing) approach to self-care.
What actions can you take to incorporate and sustain self-care? What attitudes can you adopt to foster self-care? How will you apply informed approaches to self-care?
Plus!
The above A list includes key universal aspects of successful self-care. However, another myth about self-care is that “one-self-care-plan-fits-all.” Not true! Your self-care is uniquely yours! Also, as Donia Addison reminds, your self-care plan evolves and requires times to Relax, Reset, and Rediscover.
A crucial aspect of A Plus self-care is a B—i.e., Breath! I challenge the common metaphor of self-care as an emergency mask. Self-care is BREATH! What awareness, accountability, attention, actions, attitudes, and approaches will help you breathe more freely and fully?
Even after completing a degree, the “practice tests” continue. Let’s continue to practice A Plus self-care!
Peace, Love, and Self-Care,
Erlene
Dr. Erlene Grise-Owens, Ed.D., LCSW, MSW, MRE is a Partner in The Wellness Group, ETC. This LLC provides evaluation, training, and consultation for organizational wellness and practitioner well-being. Dr. Grise-Owens is lead editor of The A-to-Z Self-Care Handbook for Social Workers and Other Helping Professionals. As a former faculty member and graduate program director, she and a small (but mighty!) group of colleagues implemented an initiative to promote self-care as part of the social work education curriculum. Previously, she served in clinical and administrative roles. She has experience with navigating toxicity and dysfunction, up-close and personal! Likewise, as an educator, she saw students enter the field and quickly burn out. As a dedicated social worker, she believes the well-being of practitioners is a matter of social justice and human rights. Thus, she is on a mission to promote self-care and wellness!