The countdown to Christmas is on…but how can you switch off from social work and turn on the festive spirit? Carry on reading for our top tips on how to prioritise self-care as a social worker in the run up to Christmas.
Spending time with loved ones
Christmas is all about spending time with people that make you smile - whether that be family, friends or pets. We just have one rule: no thinking about work! Enjoy every minute of downtime surrounded by lovely people and terrible Christmas cracker jokes.
Do things you enjoy
Be selfish this Christmas and prioritise your needs. This may seem like an impossible concept as someone whose profession is to care for others, but practising self-care is highly beneficial for your overall wellbeing and can help reduce the risk of compassion fatigue.
Festive R&R ideas:
Watch a Christmas film (top tier: The Grinch, Love Actually and Elf, don’t fight us on this).
Grab a coffee and go admire the local Christmas lights.
Make an Apple Crumble or Gingerbread house if you have kids/feeling particularly creative.
Visit a Christmas market with a friend.
Put your feet up with a hot chocolate or a cheeky Baileys and do absolutely nothing but relax!
Practice mindfulness
In recent years, ‘mindfulness’ has become a bit of a buzzword in the Western world - but it is actually a really useful tool for improving mental health and mitigating stress. The idea is to focus on how we are feeling in the present moment and accept each emotion, thought and experience as it occurs, without judgement. The Mindfulness Project offers free guided mindfulness exercises which we would recommend as a starting point.
Set boundaries
Although the Christmas period is packed with excitement, it is important to take a minute to set boundaries and protect your energy. This might be telling a friend you can’t make a Christmas-do due to your limited time off work, or asking a colleague for help when you’re feeling overwhelmed. In any case, your time is precious and setting clear boundaries with family, friends and colleagues during this busy period is essential to preventing burnout.
Imperium Solutions wishes you a relaxing Christmas and a very Happy New Year!
Remember, our team is always here to help - just give us a call on 0208 929 4000 if you have any queries relating to social care career advice or if you’re looking to start a new role.
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