Self-Care A-Z: 4 Financial Self-Care Critical Considerations
by Erlene Grise-Owens & Justin “Jay” Miller, co-editors of The A-to-Z Self-Care Handbook for Social Workers and Other Helping Professionals
A recent survey examining self-care practices of social workers identified “financial situation” as a strong predictor of one’s level of self-care*. Financial stressors can contribute to other problems, such as health and relational issues. Here are 4 Financial Self-Care Critical Considerations.
1. Claim Our Worth
Social work deserves better compensation! As a profession, we must advocate more consistently and clearly for equitable income. Social workers pursue justice for all, and WE are part of ALL!
To achieve just compensation, we must claim our worth—which we have difficulty doing. “Social workers are in it for the outcome, not the income.” This frequently-cited adage crystallizes the problem. We must correct this thinking! Social work is not just volunteering on steroids. We aren’t working gratis. To communicate otherwise diminishes our professional worth. Social workers are in it for the income—AND the outcome. We contribute to worthwhile outcomes; thus, our work is worth fair compensation!
In addition to claiming our worth as a profession, we must learn how to negotiate individual salary packages for worthy and just compensation. Check out the upcoming April 18, 2018, Webinar on negotiating your salary and benefits package, hosted by The New Social Worker.
2. Develop Money Management Skills
Notably, the survey finding (referenced above) wasn’t about actual income, but whether one had adequate money for one’s needs. Perhaps because of ambivalence toward monetary gain, social workers can neglect or be intimidated by finances. Thus, financial self-care includes money management strategies.
As with all aspects of self-care, financial management involves awareness, taking small steps, and using resources. Printed materials, online resources, and even courses are readily available. Find a financial mentor. Check on whether your agency’s Employee Assistance Programs include financial counseling. If not, advocate for your agency to provide these services and/or workshops on finances.
3. Consider Money and Meaning
Certainly, having enough money to meet basic needs—such as food and shelter—takes precedence! And fair wage is about justice! However, our consumeristic culture confuses wants with needs. Self-care involves reflective consideration of values, which includes balancing money and meaning. Am I working for more money to buy stuff at the cost of time with loved ones, community engagement, and leisure?
Rath and Harter (2010) reported on a large Gallup study on well-being; they surmised that “money is highly subjective” (p. 59). They concluded that financial well-being is affected by many factors, including job engagement/satisfaction and relational/social well-being. Through the lens of self-care, while finances are an important aspect, money is not the only factor.
4. Reconceptualize Self-Care
Thus, we must reconceptualize self-care—beyond the traditional ideas of self-care that typically require financial resources. Although joining a gym, getting massages, and so forth are fine examples of self-care, they cost. This blog—and a growing number of forums—seeks to broaden our understanding of self-care. This reconceptualization is crucial for attainable and sustainable self-care.
A future post will focus specifically on non-monetary ways to practice self-care. If you have non-monetary self-care examples you’d like to share, please, contact Erlene!
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* Dr. Jay Miller is spearheading national and international research on self-care among individuals in helping professions. To learn more about this research, you can reach Jay at Justin.miller1@uky.edu.
Reference
Rath, T., & Harter, J. (2010). Well-being: The five essential elements. NY: Gallup Press.
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. Justin "Jay" Miller is an assistant professor of social work at the University of Kentucky.
Dr. Grise-Owens and Dr. Miller, along with Mindy Eaves, are co-editors of The A-to-Z Self-Care Handbook for Social Workers and Other Helping Professionals.