The social care sector has a reputation for being demanding, high-stress work – despite how rewarding it is.
So if you work in social care, how do you switch off and leave work at work?
Read on to discover our tips for making sure all the highs and lows of a career in social care can stay within work boundaries, so you can be (and enjoy!) yourself outside those hours.
1. Seek out regular clinical supervision
As we mentioned in a recent post, regular clinical supervision is extremely important in this industry.
Not only does it provide a regular time and space to reflect on your practice, but doing so can help you feel less emotionally involved in your work.
Whether you brush up on the latest best practices or receive affirmation that you’re already taking the right approach, regular clinical supervision provides confidence that you’re doing your job to the best of your ability.
That peace of mind goes a long way to being able to leave work at work, so it’s worth asking your manager about clinical supervision options available in your workplace.
And remember, if you need to seek external clinical supervision, those costs are tax-deductible!
2. Set clear communication boundaries
Many workers feel a sense of guilt or anxiety about stepping back from clients they care about, which can prevent putting healthy boundaries in place.
Focusing on the benefits of your boundaries can help combat these feelings: a healthier you can prevent burnout, so you can keep helping others for the long-term!
Some people like to use separate phones for work and personal contacts – so you can literally switch off when you need to.
Many phones these days are ‘dual SIM’, providing all the benefits of having a work phone without you needing to fork out for (or keep track of) two devices.
If it’s impractical to separate your work and personal devices, set limits on work-related apps so notifications don’t come through outside of business hours, and create separate browser profiles.
Team culture plays a huge role in being able to leave your work at work. Let your colleagues know you’ll be out of touch outside your work hours, and hopefully they’ll feel comfortable setting the same boundaries for themselves.
3. Establish some end of day routines
Ending your day with a ‘small win’ (a short task you can tick off easily) can help you finish the workday on a positive note.
Tidying up your workspace and writing a to-do list of tasks for the next day also build a sense of order and satisfaction to end on.
Getting organised at the end of the day like this can help prevent worrying you’ve missed something.
4. Use your downtime wisely
End-of-workday routines don’t just have to be work-related.
Whether it’s going for a walk, sitting down with the crossword and a cup of tea, or something else entirely, marking the end of each workday with a relaxing activity can help you stop thinking about work, as your brain will learn to associate that activity with switching off.
Do you have other tips that help you unplug and leave your social care work at work? Let us know in the comments!
Be. Recruitment specialises in talent acquisition for the social care sector. If you’re looking to fill your organisation’s vacancies with the right candidates, or if you’d like to discuss the next step in your social care career, get in touch with our friendly team today!
