Speak Up Dont Burnout

Using your Voice to avoid the Heat

Voice your concerns regarding your health as it relates to your profession

 I recently had the opportunity to discuss various services for youth that have been apart of the foster care system.  This dialogue took place with individuals that have been dedicated to assisting numerous youth, transition into adulthood successfully.  Though our conversation was centered on the youth, the elephant in the room and the resonating theme in which I fixated, was the lack of personal care for those caring for these youth.

What does this really mean?

I can recall my days of bliss (synonymous with ignorance), prior to working in child welfare. I knew there were foster kids called, wards of the state. I knew there were foster homes. I knew there were “bad parents”. Yet, what I really knew was nothing.

I knew that going into someone’s home and leaving with their children was a luxury that was reserved for family and friends.

I knew that people where over worked and unpaid.

I truly knew this by watching my grandmother and grandfather work very hard and still not have enough.

(Burnout See MayoClinic.com) not to be confused with the popular video game- is however comparable to a car crash. Job burnout is an unfortunate reality that is associated with work in this field.  If an employee is burnt-out, it becomes detrimental to those who need them family, and clients alike. 

Burnout can be avoided. It begins with using your voice. 

Simply speaking up for you to yourself is key. I am indulged in the world of child well being as this is where I have learned to blow up plenty of molehills for what they are.

And what, pray tell are they, you ask?

                        Molehills--->Opportunities--->Mountains

Allow me to illustrate with a chart

MOLEHILL	OPPORTUNITY
Having a challenging day	Don’t take it out on your clients or your family when you get home.
If you see a problem	Counter it with a solution
If you are displaying behavior that can be described by others as being  “Negative Nancy” “Debbie Downer “ or “Touchy Tommy”	Change your perspective to be a “Chipper Charlie” or a “Happy Harry”

Long story, short chart. I don’t want you to suffer from burnout.

The world is waiting on your view from the molehill.

Please consider these (resources see sprout social.com) to help identify burnout.

Take care of yourself that you may care for others,

*~Skye   

Speak Up Don't Burn Out by Skye Berger and MoreMolehills is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/burnout/WL00062#,http://www.hulu.com/watch/68225/saturday-night-live-debbie-downer,http://sproutsocial.com/insights/2012/04/social-media-burnout/.