Hello Dear Readers,
As I write this post, I am sitting at home enjoying some much deserved vacation. I hope during the holiday season you are able to get a relaxing break as well!
It felt like I really needed this time off and in the weeks leading up to it, I found myself counting down the days. It's probably because I've been giving a bit too much of myself to work lately. I've been finding that clients' situations are becoming increasingly complex and in my attempt to do all I can to assist them, my buckets' become a little empty. And truthfully, the last year has passed by so quickly that I am scarcely able to grasp if I accomplished any of my personal or professional goals. So I decided during my vacation I'm going to re-evaluate what I want to achieve for next year.
I know the holidays can be a hard time for social workers because we never have down times, compared to some other professions. Then there are the increased family and social pressures to host and/or attend events. Or perhaps you find this an isolating time. Either way, it's like we could use a holiday from the holidays! But, I'm hoping in between the busyness you'll get the opportunity to reflect on all the good you've done in the past year. And, if there's a little time left, you can always think of ways to fill your bucket for year!
As Always,
Patti
Tuesday, 27 December 2016
Sunday, 13 November 2016
Nutrition and the Social Worker
Hello My Dear Readers,
I am going to talk about a topic that has been close to my heart for the last few years - eating healthier.
Social workers, like many in the helping professions have a lot of responsibility heaped onto them. I'm talking tight timelines, large caseloads and severe repercussions for making mistakes. Sound familiar? So oftentimes, eating healthy gets pushed onto the backburner while quick options take its place.
Each one of us has probably become a victim to this diet of disaster at one time or another. It hit me for sure in my first year as a social worker as I would hit up a drive-thru most nights after work. I just did not have the energy to make my own meals at the end of the day. Or perhaps you've started using unhealthy food as a reward. I just made it through a stressful meeting with a difficult client so I deserve a treat - like a tasty donut!
In the beginning you may not feel the consequences of having a unbalanced diet, but trust me, you eventually will. A lack of energy, having a hard time sleeping, feeling blah etc. will creep up on you. Then it will hit you that something has to change because you can't keep on going like this. Now comes the hard part, changing your eating routine. I recommend starting small. Try making one small change and once you accomplish it, move onto the next goal on your journey to eating better. It may take weeks or months but you will feel a positive difference. But just remember, don't expect to eat perfectly because you'll only be setting yourself up to fail. There will be some treats that you may never be able to eliminate from your diet, however, if you are eating healthy more often than not than what an achievement!
But you can't make the change unless you truly want it. You can't do it for others because if that's your reason you'll never stick with it. Being a social worker can take up a lot of personal energy but don't forget, eating healthy is a sure way to keep you fighting the good fight!
As Always,
Patti
I am going to talk about a topic that has been close to my heart for the last few years - eating healthier.
Social workers, like many in the helping professions have a lot of responsibility heaped onto them. I'm talking tight timelines, large caseloads and severe repercussions for making mistakes. Sound familiar? So oftentimes, eating healthy gets pushed onto the backburner while quick options take its place.
Each one of us has probably become a victim to this diet of disaster at one time or another. It hit me for sure in my first year as a social worker as I would hit up a drive-thru most nights after work. I just did not have the energy to make my own meals at the end of the day. Or perhaps you've started using unhealthy food as a reward. I just made it through a stressful meeting with a difficult client so I deserve a treat - like a tasty donut!
In the beginning you may not feel the consequences of having a unbalanced diet, but trust me, you eventually will. A lack of energy, having a hard time sleeping, feeling blah etc. will creep up on you. Then it will hit you that something has to change because you can't keep on going like this. Now comes the hard part, changing your eating routine. I recommend starting small. Try making one small change and once you accomplish it, move onto the next goal on your journey to eating better. It may take weeks or months but you will feel a positive difference. But just remember, don't expect to eat perfectly because you'll only be setting yourself up to fail. There will be some treats that you may never be able to eliminate from your diet, however, if you are eating healthy more often than not than what an achievement!
But you can't make the change unless you truly want it. You can't do it for others because if that's your reason you'll never stick with it. Being a social worker can take up a lot of personal energy but don't forget, eating healthy is a sure way to keep you fighting the good fight!
As Always,
Patti
Monday, 10 October 2016
The Overqualified Social Worker
Hi Dear Readers,
I can't believe how quickly summer has passed by. And now winter feels firmly around the corner!
The topic for this month is especially relevant in a turbulent economy. You may have been let go from a mid or senior level social work position and are now forced to take a job that you would have had earlier in your career. Or perhaps you are transitioning from one area of social work to another and have to start again at the bottom to gain experience. Then there is the group who moved into management but miss the front line or just in general want a less stressful social work job. However, I would argue that all social work jobs carry with them some form of pressure. Nonetheless, you are at a fork in the road in your career, you know what direction you want to go in but you don't know how to get there.
My first piece of advice is to use your network and online job banks to learn about any social work jobs that may be of interest. Then research as much as you can about the role, both officially through the job ad and unofficially from people who work for that agency or do the same job elsewhere. If you believe it meets your requirements then it's time to do some hardcore work on your cover letter or resume. You may have to take off higher level degrees, remove some of your first jobs which shows a longer work history, or downplay the responsibilities you've had in your recent positions. From the human resources advice I have read online, many recommend stating in your cover letter why you are applying for a job which you are clearly overqualified for (i.e. because you want greater work-life balance). However, there could be some resistance from friends, family or potential hiring managers since traditional careers involve moving up the ladder, not down. But if this is something you've decided on then don't let others dissuade you (unless of course you need a higher paying social work job to pay all your bills!).
As an experienced Social Worker my guess is you know by now what roles are not a good fit for you. So if you feel stuck in a higher paying position you don't like I suggest taking a leap outside your comfort zone by trying a social work job which may offer you less financially but will give you more personal satisfaction. And for those of you who feel forced to take a lower qualified social work job due to circumstances outside your control, I'm sorry that your career path has not been able to match your aspirations and goals.
As Always,
Patti
I can't believe how quickly summer has passed by. And now winter feels firmly around the corner!
The topic for this month is especially relevant in a turbulent economy. You may have been let go from a mid or senior level social work position and are now forced to take a job that you would have had earlier in your career. Or perhaps you are transitioning from one area of social work to another and have to start again at the bottom to gain experience. Then there is the group who moved into management but miss the front line or just in general want a less stressful social work job. However, I would argue that all social work jobs carry with them some form of pressure. Nonetheless, you are at a fork in the road in your career, you know what direction you want to go in but you don't know how to get there.
My first piece of advice is to use your network and online job banks to learn about any social work jobs that may be of interest. Then research as much as you can about the role, both officially through the job ad and unofficially from people who work for that agency or do the same job elsewhere. If you believe it meets your requirements then it's time to do some hardcore work on your cover letter or resume. You may have to take off higher level degrees, remove some of your first jobs which shows a longer work history, or downplay the responsibilities you've had in your recent positions. From the human resources advice I have read online, many recommend stating in your cover letter why you are applying for a job which you are clearly overqualified for (i.e. because you want greater work-life balance). However, there could be some resistance from friends, family or potential hiring managers since traditional careers involve moving up the ladder, not down. But if this is something you've decided on then don't let others dissuade you (unless of course you need a higher paying social work job to pay all your bills!).
As an experienced Social Worker my guess is you know by now what roles are not a good fit for you. So if you feel stuck in a higher paying position you don't like I suggest taking a leap outside your comfort zone by trying a social work job which may offer you less financially but will give you more personal satisfaction. And for those of you who feel forced to take a lower qualified social work job due to circumstances outside your control, I'm sorry that your career path has not been able to match your aspirations and goals.
As Always,
Patti
Monday, 22 August 2016
The Mediocre Social Worker
Hi Dear Readers,
Today I want to talk about a dirty little secret in the social work profession. Not all of us are die hards - not all of us strive to give our best to our agency and our clients.
It's sad to see a social worker only put in the barest amount of effort required, or even worse, fall short of displaying completely competent practice. I am talking about the social workers where you have to help pick up their slack, but which the quality of their work is not quite negligible. These are the in-betweeners who on the one hand are not likely to be fired and on the other hand are not going to be up for any employee of the year awards.
It can be frustrating for several reasons to have such a social worker in your office. Here is my list of why:
Today I want to talk about a dirty little secret in the social work profession. Not all of us are die hards - not all of us strive to give our best to our agency and our clients.
It's sad to see a social worker only put in the barest amount of effort required, or even worse, fall short of displaying completely competent practice. I am talking about the social workers where you have to help pick up their slack, but which the quality of their work is not quite negligible. These are the in-betweeners who on the one hand are not likely to be fired and on the other hand are not going to be up for any employee of the year awards.
It can be frustrating for several reasons to have such a social worker in your office. Here is my list of why:
- Clients may ask you for assistance before their own worker because they are sure you will be able to help them
- Since the social worker is less committed to their work, they do not feel the same weight of responsibility that the rest of us do
- The social worker is paid the same as their co-workers, even though they do not provide high quality work
- The mistakes they make get reflected on the whole agency and it is often up to the other social workers to rectify them
Now I want to go into the reasons why a social worker might be mediocre:
- They are in the wrong profession
- They are in the right field but the position itself is a bad fit
- They are experiencing ongoing personal issues which are impacting their performance
- They were not given proper training when they started their job
- They are not being provided with regular, adequate supervision
It's inevitable that each of us will make a mistake or have an off-day. However, that does not make us mediocre social workers. It's displaying sub-par work everyday that makes a social worker one.
If you are experiencing this issue in your office, I recommend going to management with your concerns as they might not be aware of the dissension it's causing. Or, if they have already noticed, then this will be a not so subtle reminder that it still needs to be addressed.
And if in reading this post, you recognize yourself as a mediocre social worker, I highly recommend you delve into the reasons why this is so. It may take some deep soul searching and the support of your co-workers, management or a professional to help you but it will be worth rectifying it. You'll likely feel happier and have better professional relationships with your co-workers and clients as a result.
As Always,
Patti
Sunday, 31 July 2016
The Underqualified Social Worker
Hi Readers,
Being underqualified is a tough hurdle to overcome, and it effects not only newly minted social workers but seasoned ones as well. You may only have experience in a particular area and you are looking to branch out. Social workers use many of the same skills despite the different fields we occupy but having a perspective employer recognize that can be a challenge.
While pursing your social work education, volunteering and/or having a part time job in your area of interest can be a great way of getting a foot in the door. Your employer may keep you in mind when a future posting comes up because they already know your personality and work ethic. The exposure to social work you gained through your practicum is also an advantage that should be highlighted on your resume.
However, for those of us in mid-career, we face our own particular obstacles when it comes to finding a new social work job. Our years of experience can work against us - especially if we have only worked for a couple of agencies or have held the same position for several years. We feel like it's time to move on but to what? Many job descriptions request experience in specific areas that we don't have, or require certification in treatment methods that we have never obtained because it wasn't applicable in our line of work. So what do we do next?
I wish there was an easy answer I could give, but as you can already guess, it's complicated. I would say to first start doing some soul searching to decide what you want your ultimate career goal to be. Then you need to plan out the incremental steps to get there. It may result in having to take additional schooling, a pay cut or you might have to move. Are you prepared for that? How much is your dream job worth? Plus, if you are already feeling very frustrated at your current job then I'm guessing the only thought you're having right now is I NEED TO GET OUT! That's the exhaustion and burnout talking. But be careful when taking a new job as you don't want to move into an even worse situation. On the other hand (and I hate to say this), to get to a job you're underqualified for now, you might have to take other jobs you don't like in order to gain the experience you need. It sounds counterproductive, I know, but I am quickly learning how much sacrifice it takes for a person to move beyond their current situation.
Careers paths are not always easy as it takes time to get where you want to be. You may look at others who seem so happy and successful, but I assure you, there is something they are struggling with in their position. Maybe they don't like the responsibility of being a supervisor but they don't know how to move down the ladder, or they have been in their current job so long that they don't feel they can learn something new, or they are in a lower level position and want to move up but there are no mid-level positions at their agency. The challenges can seem endless and it can be painful when you keep trying to reach your dream job, which for some reason or another it keeps falling through your grasp.
I don't know what I can say to make you feel better because each situation is unique. However, at least you have a goal and are trying to improve your work situation. Some people just end up giving in in the end. And we have all met people like that - who are no fun to be around! I'd say talk to close family members and friends if you feel they can give you useful advice. There are also career specialists who can give you unbiased information. Whatever your case, I would stay start thinking now about what you want your future job to look like since it will take a lot of soul searching, researching and hard work to get there. However, if you are the type that just goes with the flow and is happy wherever they end up, consider yourself lucky that you don't get to experience the career angst that many of us go through!
As Always,
Patti
Being underqualified is a tough hurdle to overcome, and it effects not only newly minted social workers but seasoned ones as well. You may only have experience in a particular area and you are looking to branch out. Social workers use many of the same skills despite the different fields we occupy but having a perspective employer recognize that can be a challenge.
While pursing your social work education, volunteering and/or having a part time job in your area of interest can be a great way of getting a foot in the door. Your employer may keep you in mind when a future posting comes up because they already know your personality and work ethic. The exposure to social work you gained through your practicum is also an advantage that should be highlighted on your resume.
However, for those of us in mid-career, we face our own particular obstacles when it comes to finding a new social work job. Our years of experience can work against us - especially if we have only worked for a couple of agencies or have held the same position for several years. We feel like it's time to move on but to what? Many job descriptions request experience in specific areas that we don't have, or require certification in treatment methods that we have never obtained because it wasn't applicable in our line of work. So what do we do next?
I wish there was an easy answer I could give, but as you can already guess, it's complicated. I would say to first start doing some soul searching to decide what you want your ultimate career goal to be. Then you need to plan out the incremental steps to get there. It may result in having to take additional schooling, a pay cut or you might have to move. Are you prepared for that? How much is your dream job worth? Plus, if you are already feeling very frustrated at your current job then I'm guessing the only thought you're having right now is I NEED TO GET OUT! That's the exhaustion and burnout talking. But be careful when taking a new job as you don't want to move into an even worse situation. On the other hand (and I hate to say this), to get to a job you're underqualified for now, you might have to take other jobs you don't like in order to gain the experience you need. It sounds counterproductive, I know, but I am quickly learning how much sacrifice it takes for a person to move beyond their current situation.
Careers paths are not always easy as it takes time to get where you want to be. You may look at others who seem so happy and successful, but I assure you, there is something they are struggling with in their position. Maybe they don't like the responsibility of being a supervisor but they don't know how to move down the ladder, or they have been in their current job so long that they don't feel they can learn something new, or they are in a lower level position and want to move up but there are no mid-level positions at their agency. The challenges can seem endless and it can be painful when you keep trying to reach your dream job, which for some reason or another it keeps falling through your grasp.
I don't know what I can say to make you feel better because each situation is unique. However, at least you have a goal and are trying to improve your work situation. Some people just end up giving in in the end. And we have all met people like that - who are no fun to be around! I'd say talk to close family members and friends if you feel they can give you useful advice. There are also career specialists who can give you unbiased information. Whatever your case, I would stay start thinking now about what you want your future job to look like since it will take a lot of soul searching, researching and hard work to get there. However, if you are the type that just goes with the flow and is happy wherever they end up, consider yourself lucky that you don't get to experience the career angst that many of us go through!
As Always,
Patti
Sunday, 19 June 2016
Dreams and the Social Worker Part 2
Hi Dear Readers,
Today I want to talk about connecting with our dreams. They could be personal or professional, easy to obtain or seemingly impossible to acquire. I find dreams to be the core motivators in our lives because if you're not working towards something - anything, you might as well be frozen.
There are a lot of generic dreams out there that everyone is expected to have - travel around the world, keep moving up in your field and so on. And as a Social Work just starting out I bought into a lot of goals that I thought I wanted. But as time passed and I faced more challenges I realized what is most important to me. I want to have supportive people around me and I want to participate in a job where I feel like I am genuinely helping others without it taking too much of a toll on me.
The higher the dreams, the higher the costs but it can be worth it. If your dream is deeply embedded in your soul and you feel a calling to pursue it then I wouldn't let anything get in your way of achieving it. But if you have other significant obligations they should be considered first. You don't want one area of your life to be going great while another is neglected. The key is to try and achieve balance while chasing your dreams.
Personally, there is a dream I have that is going to take several years to accomplish. Knowing that, I do feel a pang of disappointment at having to wait for it but I also know that I will truly appreciate the sacrifice it took to achieve it. Since it's a big goal there are a lot of smaller steps involved but after carefully mapping it out I feel like I've got a good plan.
Not many people know about my dream, just a couple friends and my family. However, I want it to stay that way because it's not a traditional goal and I doubt that those who don't know me very well would truly understand why I am pursing it.
Overall, I know it can be hard when we are caught up with our lives to dream. Many goals we have seem too far away or impossible. And it's true, there are some dreams that we have that we'll likely never accomplish. But there are also reasonable goals we can achieve if we only set our mind to it and not let others or our own negative self-talk dissuade us. We often put ourselves last, being in a helping profession and I know I am guilty of letting years pass without never really moving forward on my dreams. Yet, I am finally answering the call and I hope that some day dear reader, you too will grab hold to a long neglected dream.
As Always,
Patti
Today I want to talk about connecting with our dreams. They could be personal or professional, easy to obtain or seemingly impossible to acquire. I find dreams to be the core motivators in our lives because if you're not working towards something - anything, you might as well be frozen.
There are a lot of generic dreams out there that everyone is expected to have - travel around the world, keep moving up in your field and so on. And as a Social Work just starting out I bought into a lot of goals that I thought I wanted. But as time passed and I faced more challenges I realized what is most important to me. I want to have supportive people around me and I want to participate in a job where I feel like I am genuinely helping others without it taking too much of a toll on me.
The higher the dreams, the higher the costs but it can be worth it. If your dream is deeply embedded in your soul and you feel a calling to pursue it then I wouldn't let anything get in your way of achieving it. But if you have other significant obligations they should be considered first. You don't want one area of your life to be going great while another is neglected. The key is to try and achieve balance while chasing your dreams.
Personally, there is a dream I have that is going to take several years to accomplish. Knowing that, I do feel a pang of disappointment at having to wait for it but I also know that I will truly appreciate the sacrifice it took to achieve it. Since it's a big goal there are a lot of smaller steps involved but after carefully mapping it out I feel like I've got a good plan.
Not many people know about my dream, just a couple friends and my family. However, I want it to stay that way because it's not a traditional goal and I doubt that those who don't know me very well would truly understand why I am pursing it.
Overall, I know it can be hard when we are caught up with our lives to dream. Many goals we have seem too far away or impossible. And it's true, there are some dreams that we have that we'll likely never accomplish. But there are also reasonable goals we can achieve if we only set our mind to it and not let others or our own negative self-talk dissuade us. We often put ourselves last, being in a helping profession and I know I am guilty of letting years pass without never really moving forward on my dreams. Yet, I am finally answering the call and I hope that some day dear reader, you too will grab hold to a long neglected dream.
As Always,
Patti
Sunday, 1 May 2016
Long Overdue Update
Hi Everyone,
I am sorry it's taken me this long to update but I thought my blog was lost! However, I got a new computer and discovered I still have access to it.
For those of you who are curious, I am still in the same job but I admit it has has gotten easier. It could be because self-care has become a more central part of my life. I am ensuring I take care of myself first and I have been successful at letting the little things go, especially at work. Also, at this point I know the job pretty well so it brings confidence. However, recently I have applied for new jobs that are less stressful and some which involve making a bit less pay but I am alright with that. I figured out the dollar amount I need to make to pay all my bills and save for retirement so as long as I stay above that number I know I will be alright!
I think what has also helped me is learning to stand up for myself, both with the people I work with and my clients. I am becoming more honest and saying what I feel which isn't always easy but I believe others appreciate it. Also, I am eating better, exercising several times a week and I have learnt to take time for myself in the evenings and on weekends. I say "no" a lot more to things that drain my energy and it's been a learn as I go process. I had dreams for myself before I started my first social work job and I have had to accept many are not going to happen - either because the goals were not realistic or they don't really fit with who I have become. I doubt I am going to be some social work super achiever. I can't juggle a lot of things at once and when it comes to a family and career I seriously doubt I could handle both, even though many do. But that's ok because I am living life how I want to and I am as close to achieving balance as I can. It's taken a lot of hard work to get to that point and I have wanted to throw in the towel about a hundred times but I am glad I stuck in there. It's made me a confident, more knowledgeable social worker. It also reminds me of a recent conversation I had with a client who was interested in becoming a social worker. I told them that it can be a challenge to help others when they don't want it but for those you do get to help it's rewarding. Then I finished off by saying that it gets easier over time, which is what I wish I had been told when I was starting out.
I will definitely ensure I post more often when I have interesting ideas. I also appreciate any comments given.
As Always,
Patti
I am sorry it's taken me this long to update but I thought my blog was lost! However, I got a new computer and discovered I still have access to it.
For those of you who are curious, I am still in the same job but I admit it has has gotten easier. It could be because self-care has become a more central part of my life. I am ensuring I take care of myself first and I have been successful at letting the little things go, especially at work. Also, at this point I know the job pretty well so it brings confidence. However, recently I have applied for new jobs that are less stressful and some which involve making a bit less pay but I am alright with that. I figured out the dollar amount I need to make to pay all my bills and save for retirement so as long as I stay above that number I know I will be alright!
I think what has also helped me is learning to stand up for myself, both with the people I work with and my clients. I am becoming more honest and saying what I feel which isn't always easy but I believe others appreciate it. Also, I am eating better, exercising several times a week and I have learnt to take time for myself in the evenings and on weekends. I say "no" a lot more to things that drain my energy and it's been a learn as I go process. I had dreams for myself before I started my first social work job and I have had to accept many are not going to happen - either because the goals were not realistic or they don't really fit with who I have become. I doubt I am going to be some social work super achiever. I can't juggle a lot of things at once and when it comes to a family and career I seriously doubt I could handle both, even though many do. But that's ok because I am living life how I want to and I am as close to achieving balance as I can. It's taken a lot of hard work to get to that point and I have wanted to throw in the towel about a hundred times but I am glad I stuck in there. It's made me a confident, more knowledgeable social worker. It also reminds me of a recent conversation I had with a client who was interested in becoming a social worker. I told them that it can be a challenge to help others when they don't want it but for those you do get to help it's rewarding. Then I finished off by saying that it gets easier over time, which is what I wish I had been told when I was starting out.
I will definitely ensure I post more often when I have interesting ideas. I also appreciate any comments given.
As Always,
Patti
Saturday, 19 July 2014
Following Your Dreams
Hello Readers,
The summer has been passing by so quickly that I have not written as often as I would have liked to. But I am hoping to make up for it with this post.
Sometimes as Social Workers we focus so much on the hopes and dreams of others that we often forget about what inspires us in our own lives. We may have goals for ourselves but only see them as a fixed destination and not a journey. I also don't believe we should consider our dreams as solitary to one specific area of our lives. Our dreams can have a big impact on our family life, careers and so on.
Few Social Workers I have met who have been in the field for a long time talk about their dreams (other then the obvious retirement)! It's as if having big goals for your life is seen as superior or lofty to others. Or maybe your co-workers are jealous that you have actually been able to identify goals for yourself. As Social Workers we are rarely encouraged to dream, think outside the box and be creative (at least in the work environments I have been in). It's like your whole existence must be about your job.
Fighting the status quo has always been my stance/curse. I am always bringing forward new ideas to do things differently professionally, and personally I have rarely followed the norm. It just isn't in my blood. However, I feel as though I am at a crossroads in my life in taking the traditional path or the road less travelled. Opportunities are opening up to me that I could so easily take but I doubt they would make me happy. Yet, there are also opportunities/dreams that come with some risk and which I will have to battle hard for but they will provide me with a great sense of accomplishment once achieved.
I wish goals and dreams came with a handbook. What do you do when you have several and you don't know which one should be the priority? When do you know that you should let go of a dream when you're fairly certain you're not going to be successful at it? As Social Workers we can be cheerleaders inspiring those around us to reach for their dreams but we can't forget to ask ourselves what we really want in life and how we are going to support ourselves enough to achieve it.
As Always,
Patti
The summer has been passing by so quickly that I have not written as often as I would have liked to. But I am hoping to make up for it with this post.
Sometimes as Social Workers we focus so much on the hopes and dreams of others that we often forget about what inspires us in our own lives. We may have goals for ourselves but only see them as a fixed destination and not a journey. I also don't believe we should consider our dreams as solitary to one specific area of our lives. Our dreams can have a big impact on our family life, careers and so on.
Few Social Workers I have met who have been in the field for a long time talk about their dreams (other then the obvious retirement)! It's as if having big goals for your life is seen as superior or lofty to others. Or maybe your co-workers are jealous that you have actually been able to identify goals for yourself. As Social Workers we are rarely encouraged to dream, think outside the box and be creative (at least in the work environments I have been in). It's like your whole existence must be about your job.
Fighting the status quo has always been my stance/curse. I am always bringing forward new ideas to do things differently professionally, and personally I have rarely followed the norm. It just isn't in my blood. However, I feel as though I am at a crossroads in my life in taking the traditional path or the road less travelled. Opportunities are opening up to me that I could so easily take but I doubt they would make me happy. Yet, there are also opportunities/dreams that come with some risk and which I will have to battle hard for but they will provide me with a great sense of accomplishment once achieved.
I wish goals and dreams came with a handbook. What do you do when you have several and you don't know which one should be the priority? When do you know that you should let go of a dream when you're fairly certain you're not going to be successful at it? As Social Workers we can be cheerleaders inspiring those around us to reach for their dreams but we can't forget to ask ourselves what we really want in life and how we are going to support ourselves enough to achieve it.
As Always,
Patti
Sunday, 25 May 2014
Social Worker and the City
Hello Dear Readers,
I can't believe how fast time has been moving lately. Work is picking up at an incredible pace and I can only forsee it getting busier in the coming months.
A lot of change is happening with my job and many of them are not for the best. The workload is going to be significantly increasing for both me and my co-workers and I see a lot of overtime in the horizon. Add to that the more unfun aspects of my job which I have had to deal with lately which in total makes for a stressed out social worker!
I know I won't be doing this job forever and that thought gives me some solace. Right now it's the burnout that's creeping in and it's not so much physical but emotional. It's the hard aspects of the job that are starting to weigh me down - the nitty gritty things that all helping professionals have to work with. I am getting tired of dealing with unhappy people and having to be "the tough guy." I am normally a pretty upbeat person and I try and surround myself with positive people. But you don't get that choice when you have to work with angry clients. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy being able to advocate or offer support to clients who need it and it makes me proud when they tell me "thank you." However, all of that gets quickly washed away when I work with someone who is the opposite. I know it is all part of being a social worker, especially one who is working in front line but I can't help but think in the moment "why do I do this to myself?"
So, I have begun working on my exit strategy. I have a firm timeline of when I'll likely be leaving this job. It's not right away which is a good thing since I need the time to plan my next moves. I am going to be ramping up my job searching just to give me an idea of what's out there. I did find an interesting job posted this weekend which at face value looks positive but it does still include some elements of front line social work. So now I am doubting it's fit. And as I've been saying since I moved on from my first social work job, the next one needs to be better - lower caseloads, less stressful etc. And in a way they have all been a bit better than the last, however as my Dad reminds me, they are not much better! So this time I want to start fresh, considering jobs I may have never looked at before to help me break the front line cycle. I am especially investigating paperworky job since writing/paperwork is definitely one of my strengths.
I know that I can use my social work experience and education to do many types of jobs, especially in the organization I work for. I am lucky in that they encourage lateral transfers and promotions but not climbing down the ladder. And to be honest, I am not at the point yet where I could even afford to do that. So type of job is one important aspect but also the location of said job is another. Which brings me to the topic of this post...
I work in a city, albeit not in one the size of Toronto or Vancouver. I don't have to worry about crime too much or getting lost. I have friends here and I know what to expect from my city. But, it doesn't have the amount of job opportunities as a bigger city. I've already decided I am going to stay in my province, however I am starting to accept the fact that if I want to move on from front line social work, I have better chances of doing so if I worked at one of our offices in a larger city. I know that there are sacrifices in whatever decisions we make but I am trying to balance mine here. I am trying to weigh the pros and cons of moving to a metropolis. The negatives include increased crime, rush hour traffic, having to learn a new city, getting to know new co-workers and making new friends. However, as one person close to me said, your scope of practice is usually smaller in a big city and that would be something I would enjoy. Other positives include more work opportunities in general, more social/creative activities to participate in, more anonymity and less travel for work (which is especially nice in the winter). But the idea of completely starting over - a new job in a new city - it's a big decision that I can't take lightly.
As Always,
Patti
I can't believe how fast time has been moving lately. Work is picking up at an incredible pace and I can only forsee it getting busier in the coming months.
A lot of change is happening with my job and many of them are not for the best. The workload is going to be significantly increasing for both me and my co-workers and I see a lot of overtime in the horizon. Add to that the more unfun aspects of my job which I have had to deal with lately which in total makes for a stressed out social worker!
I know I won't be doing this job forever and that thought gives me some solace. Right now it's the burnout that's creeping in and it's not so much physical but emotional. It's the hard aspects of the job that are starting to weigh me down - the nitty gritty things that all helping professionals have to work with. I am getting tired of dealing with unhappy people and having to be "the tough guy." I am normally a pretty upbeat person and I try and surround myself with positive people. But you don't get that choice when you have to work with angry clients. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy being able to advocate or offer support to clients who need it and it makes me proud when they tell me "thank you." However, all of that gets quickly washed away when I work with someone who is the opposite. I know it is all part of being a social worker, especially one who is working in front line but I can't help but think in the moment "why do I do this to myself?"
So, I have begun working on my exit strategy. I have a firm timeline of when I'll likely be leaving this job. It's not right away which is a good thing since I need the time to plan my next moves. I am going to be ramping up my job searching just to give me an idea of what's out there. I did find an interesting job posted this weekend which at face value looks positive but it does still include some elements of front line social work. So now I am doubting it's fit. And as I've been saying since I moved on from my first social work job, the next one needs to be better - lower caseloads, less stressful etc. And in a way they have all been a bit better than the last, however as my Dad reminds me, they are not much better! So this time I want to start fresh, considering jobs I may have never looked at before to help me break the front line cycle. I am especially investigating paperworky job since writing/paperwork is definitely one of my strengths.
I know that I can use my social work experience and education to do many types of jobs, especially in the organization I work for. I am lucky in that they encourage lateral transfers and promotions but not climbing down the ladder. And to be honest, I am not at the point yet where I could even afford to do that. So type of job is one important aspect but also the location of said job is another. Which brings me to the topic of this post...
I work in a city, albeit not in one the size of Toronto or Vancouver. I don't have to worry about crime too much or getting lost. I have friends here and I know what to expect from my city. But, it doesn't have the amount of job opportunities as a bigger city. I've already decided I am going to stay in my province, however I am starting to accept the fact that if I want to move on from front line social work, I have better chances of doing so if I worked at one of our offices in a larger city. I know that there are sacrifices in whatever decisions we make but I am trying to balance mine here. I am trying to weigh the pros and cons of moving to a metropolis. The negatives include increased crime, rush hour traffic, having to learn a new city, getting to know new co-workers and making new friends. However, as one person close to me said, your scope of practice is usually smaller in a big city and that would be something I would enjoy. Other positives include more work opportunities in general, more social/creative activities to participate in, more anonymity and less travel for work (which is especially nice in the winter). But the idea of completely starting over - a new job in a new city - it's a big decision that I can't take lightly.
As Always,
Patti
Saturday, 26 April 2014
Fitting In
Happy April Dear Readers!
It has been a long winter here in Canada and if you can believe it we actually got snow this week where I live! But I am hoping May will be a lot warmer since I am having a harder and harder time remembering what summer feels like!
Work was especially busy this week and combined with a lot of social engagements I found my depression creeping in. I am lucky in that I recognize it and that the negative feelings usually don't last any longer than a day or two. But to me it's a sign there is not enough rest time included in my schedule to relax and recharge. I especially need more quiet time in the evenings when I am having a challenging time at work. Unfortunately, I get both physical and emotional symptoms of stress which can include not being able to sleep, having chest pains, not being hungry, getting headaches, being irritable and so on. I was mentioning some of these symptoms to my Mom and she suggested I just change my way of thinking. I am aware of the benefits of cognitive behavioural therapy but to be honest I believe my personality is the greatest factor. I just do not handle conflict well at work (although in my personal life it's not too bad - likely because the issues are more complex at work). I know that I will eventually get through the situation and I'll be professional but it just takes so much out of me. I can see now that I should never have gotten into the field of social work since it involves at TON of conflict but I wanted to help people so badly. Instead I realized I am content to help others in my daily life i.e. standing up for someone when I see an injustice happen or helping friends with career or life issues. I have realized that anyone can make it their mantra to help others and it doesn't necessarily have to involve working in a helping field.
But alas, on to the topic at hand - fitting in at the office. As it goes, with any job in an office setting there are politics at various levels such as between co-workers or with management. Every person has their own agenda - to just put in their time so they can get a pay check, to climb the career ladder and step over whoever is in their way to get there, to gain experience and then move on, or those in limbo who are not quite sure what they want to do next so they stay until they figure out their next move (I fall into this group and I believe many others do as well). And within those groups you get different personality types such as leaders, introverts (me!), extroverts, drama queens, geeks (me!) and so on.
It is challenging when you first start a job since you don't know who fits into which group and what their personality type is. And how you interact with each type is very important so you don't cause any waves. This was a hard lesson I had to learn when I first started at my organization but I have since gotten better at filtering what I say and only showing my quirkiness to the direct group of people I work with (who luckily accept me as I am). But the field of social work in general is full of very social people who flourish in group settings and enjoy debating the world of "grey." To me "grey" refers to the policies which are not firm or clear enough to give you a direct answer as to how assist your client within the parameters of the program you work for. I hate it when "grey" situations come up at the office since I can always see both sides and my opinion can greatly waver depending on the latest point either my supervisor or co-workers make. In general, I hate the feeling of being wishy-washy and it makes me feel like a weak worker. I can sprout historical case facts and other relevant data like nobody else (sometimes I joke at work that I am borderline Asperger's) but for sure the vagueness does not make me feel comfortable.
At these times I just wish I was given a stack of manageable, uncomplicated work to do which I could accomplish independently. But people are messy and when you work in the field of helping others their are emotions and opinions to consider. My Mom suggested to me today that I just leave my organization and get a job working in a back office somewhere (she was not joking and meant it honestly). There are moments when I think she has a point but any jobs like that would require a serious pay cut and a huge reduction in human contact. I still want to have co-workers but I admit it would be nice losing the helpless feeling that comes when you can't help your clients like you want to and on the flip side no longer having irrational or angry clients to deal with. But I have read enough career blogs and articles to know there is no perfect job out there. And some of the best advice I have read lately is to not have a job which you are passionate about (since it can ruin your love of it) but to instead be in a field that caters to your strengths. I have no doubt that I have gained some valuable experience as a social worker over the years and that there might be some higher up jobs (but not management) that would allow me to use this knowledge in a helpful way. Nonetheless, I truly believe I am on the way out of front line social work since there are too many negatives to it, at least for me. But them the question becomes where would I have the better fit? It feels like there is as many possibilities as there are directions.
Happy Pondering,
Patti
It has been a long winter here in Canada and if you can believe it we actually got snow this week where I live! But I am hoping May will be a lot warmer since I am having a harder and harder time remembering what summer feels like!
Work was especially busy this week and combined with a lot of social engagements I found my depression creeping in. I am lucky in that I recognize it and that the negative feelings usually don't last any longer than a day or two. But to me it's a sign there is not enough rest time included in my schedule to relax and recharge. I especially need more quiet time in the evenings when I am having a challenging time at work. Unfortunately, I get both physical and emotional symptoms of stress which can include not being able to sleep, having chest pains, not being hungry, getting headaches, being irritable and so on. I was mentioning some of these symptoms to my Mom and she suggested I just change my way of thinking. I am aware of the benefits of cognitive behavioural therapy but to be honest I believe my personality is the greatest factor. I just do not handle conflict well at work (although in my personal life it's not too bad - likely because the issues are more complex at work). I know that I will eventually get through the situation and I'll be professional but it just takes so much out of me. I can see now that I should never have gotten into the field of social work since it involves at TON of conflict but I wanted to help people so badly. Instead I realized I am content to help others in my daily life i.e. standing up for someone when I see an injustice happen or helping friends with career or life issues. I have realized that anyone can make it their mantra to help others and it doesn't necessarily have to involve working in a helping field.
But alas, on to the topic at hand - fitting in at the office. As it goes, with any job in an office setting there are politics at various levels such as between co-workers or with management. Every person has their own agenda - to just put in their time so they can get a pay check, to climb the career ladder and step over whoever is in their way to get there, to gain experience and then move on, or those in limbo who are not quite sure what they want to do next so they stay until they figure out their next move (I fall into this group and I believe many others do as well). And within those groups you get different personality types such as leaders, introverts (me!), extroverts, drama queens, geeks (me!) and so on.
It is challenging when you first start a job since you don't know who fits into which group and what their personality type is. And how you interact with each type is very important so you don't cause any waves. This was a hard lesson I had to learn when I first started at my organization but I have since gotten better at filtering what I say and only showing my quirkiness to the direct group of people I work with (who luckily accept me as I am). But the field of social work in general is full of very social people who flourish in group settings and enjoy debating the world of "grey." To me "grey" refers to the policies which are not firm or clear enough to give you a direct answer as to how assist your client within the parameters of the program you work for. I hate it when "grey" situations come up at the office since I can always see both sides and my opinion can greatly waver depending on the latest point either my supervisor or co-workers make. In general, I hate the feeling of being wishy-washy and it makes me feel like a weak worker. I can sprout historical case facts and other relevant data like nobody else (sometimes I joke at work that I am borderline Asperger's) but for sure the vagueness does not make me feel comfortable.
At these times I just wish I was given a stack of manageable, uncomplicated work to do which I could accomplish independently. But people are messy and when you work in the field of helping others their are emotions and opinions to consider. My Mom suggested to me today that I just leave my organization and get a job working in a back office somewhere (she was not joking and meant it honestly). There are moments when I think she has a point but any jobs like that would require a serious pay cut and a huge reduction in human contact. I still want to have co-workers but I admit it would be nice losing the helpless feeling that comes when you can't help your clients like you want to and on the flip side no longer having irrational or angry clients to deal with. But I have read enough career blogs and articles to know there is no perfect job out there. And some of the best advice I have read lately is to not have a job which you are passionate about (since it can ruin your love of it) but to instead be in a field that caters to your strengths. I have no doubt that I have gained some valuable experience as a social worker over the years and that there might be some higher up jobs (but not management) that would allow me to use this knowledge in a helpful way. Nonetheless, I truly believe I am on the way out of front line social work since there are too many negatives to it, at least for me. But them the question becomes where would I have the better fit? It feels like there is as many possibilities as there are directions.
Happy Pondering,
Patti
Monday, 24 March 2014
Counselling and the Social Worker
Hello Dear Readers,
Well there almost goes another month! Things have been pretty steady for me since Christmas and I just finished up an intense week at work with more travel than usual.
To be honest, I am finding extensive travel as one of the most stressful things about my job. I dread the pile of work waiting for me when I return to my desk and cramming in so many client visits while I am on the road. I also think the break in routine is hard for me too. I like having a steady pace at work and when my schedule completely changes it's difficult for me to cope.
After many years in the field of social work I can definitely see how it is not a match for my introverted, conventional personality type and my anxiety and depression. I still dream about a life after social work in a more supportive role but I am a few years away from that and when I do consider changing the path of my career I get a little scared since all I know is social work. It's how others define me and it's the profession I sacrificed so much for. And I know when I leave this field I'll have to come to terms with the great price I have had to paid for it.
But alas, there is a topic which has become almost a daily part of my life lately. Counselling - and I am not talking about helping my clients. I have had several co-workers who have approached me for social workey advice for their personal issues. I am greatly honoured to be entrusted with their secrets (none life threatening you can be rest assured!) but still serious problems nonetheless. In a way I enjoy getting to use those skills which I don't get to use too often in my current job. In other ways I feel like I am giving biased help since I am friends with these people as well so I try to differentiate by saying 'as a social worker' or 'as a friend' before I give advice so they know where I am coming from. Overall I believe they ask for this help because they are aware of my social work experience and because of the personal challenges I have been able to overcome - with a majority of them occurring while I've been a social worker. The ironic thing is that a lot of these co-workers are older then me which shows me that experience is not dependent on age.
So I am wondering if any of you have had family, friends, co-workers or people in the community approach you for professional advice because you are a social worker.
As Always,
Patti
Well there almost goes another month! Things have been pretty steady for me since Christmas and I just finished up an intense week at work with more travel than usual.
To be honest, I am finding extensive travel as one of the most stressful things about my job. I dread the pile of work waiting for me when I return to my desk and cramming in so many client visits while I am on the road. I also think the break in routine is hard for me too. I like having a steady pace at work and when my schedule completely changes it's difficult for me to cope.
After many years in the field of social work I can definitely see how it is not a match for my introverted, conventional personality type and my anxiety and depression. I still dream about a life after social work in a more supportive role but I am a few years away from that and when I do consider changing the path of my career I get a little scared since all I know is social work. It's how others define me and it's the profession I sacrificed so much for. And I know when I leave this field I'll have to come to terms with the great price I have had to paid for it.
But alas, there is a topic which has become almost a daily part of my life lately. Counselling - and I am not talking about helping my clients. I have had several co-workers who have approached me for social workey advice for their personal issues. I am greatly honoured to be entrusted with their secrets (none life threatening you can be rest assured!) but still serious problems nonetheless. In a way I enjoy getting to use those skills which I don't get to use too often in my current job. In other ways I feel like I am giving biased help since I am friends with these people as well so I try to differentiate by saying 'as a social worker' or 'as a friend' before I give advice so they know where I am coming from. Overall I believe they ask for this help because they are aware of my social work experience and because of the personal challenges I have been able to overcome - with a majority of them occurring while I've been a social worker. The ironic thing is that a lot of these co-workers are older then me which shows me that experience is not dependent on age.
So I am wondering if any of you have had family, friends, co-workers or people in the community approach you for professional advice because you are a social worker.
As Always,
Patti
Thursday, 13 February 2014
Happy Valentine's Day!
Happy Valentine's Day My Dear Readers,
What has Patti been up to this last month you may be wondering to yourselves? Not much actually. It has been cold and snowy where I live and I have dreaded the times when I have travel scheduled for work.
Overall work has continued to have it's ebbs and flows. One moment I am extremely busy and other times not so much. It can be crisis driven so whenever I get an unexpected phone call from a client I wonder if it's because of a crisis. In general, I feel burnt out from emergency situations and the first thoughts that come into my head when a crisis comes up are "why am I doing this job?" or "I need to find something else that is less of a roller coaster." After much personal/career research I have realized I have a conventional sort of personality that thrives on stability and clear expectations - so why the heck did I get into social work??? The lack of defined policies and constantly changing mandates really drive me up the wall sometimes. But I am still at the same social work job and I will remain here until something better comes along.
Other exciting things in my life include an upcoming move. For some reason or another I seem to move about once a year and usually during my busiest times at work. I am not looking forward to the stress that is coming up with this move but I know it will lead to me being in a more comfortable living situation.
As for educational goals I have taken the lazy woman's approach and decided not to pursue my master's degree in social work. I cannot see pouring more money into my social work education as I don't know if I will remain in this profession long term. Also, the added stress of working all day and completing coursework in the evening and weekends will probably be too much for me. I like to decompress when I get home, although if I did not have to work I could see myself returning to school full time if the right program presented itself.
However, like the title of my post says, it's Valentine's Day and I want to wish all of you dear readers a day filled with compassion, kindness and love. Today is perfect for getting some treats for your co-workers, having a special dinner with family, or having a fun night out on the town with friends. In general, it's a reminder about the special relationships we have in our lives (not just romantic) and the opportunity we have to share our feelings with those people. Or like me, it is about considering romantic possibilities for the future!
As Always,
Patti
What has Patti been up to this last month you may be wondering to yourselves? Not much actually. It has been cold and snowy where I live and I have dreaded the times when I have travel scheduled for work.
Overall work has continued to have it's ebbs and flows. One moment I am extremely busy and other times not so much. It can be crisis driven so whenever I get an unexpected phone call from a client I wonder if it's because of a crisis. In general, I feel burnt out from emergency situations and the first thoughts that come into my head when a crisis comes up are "why am I doing this job?" or "I need to find something else that is less of a roller coaster." After much personal/career research I have realized I have a conventional sort of personality that thrives on stability and clear expectations - so why the heck did I get into social work??? The lack of defined policies and constantly changing mandates really drive me up the wall sometimes. But I am still at the same social work job and I will remain here until something better comes along.
Other exciting things in my life include an upcoming move. For some reason or another I seem to move about once a year and usually during my busiest times at work. I am not looking forward to the stress that is coming up with this move but I know it will lead to me being in a more comfortable living situation.
As for educational goals I have taken the lazy woman's approach and decided not to pursue my master's degree in social work. I cannot see pouring more money into my social work education as I don't know if I will remain in this profession long term. Also, the added stress of working all day and completing coursework in the evening and weekends will probably be too much for me. I like to decompress when I get home, although if I did not have to work I could see myself returning to school full time if the right program presented itself.
However, like the title of my post says, it's Valentine's Day and I want to wish all of you dear readers a day filled with compassion, kindness and love. Today is perfect for getting some treats for your co-workers, having a special dinner with family, or having a fun night out on the town with friends. In general, it's a reminder about the special relationships we have in our lives (not just romantic) and the opportunity we have to share our feelings with those people. Or like me, it is about considering romantic possibilities for the future!
As Always,
Patti
Sunday, 12 January 2014
Hobbies and the Social Worker
Hello My Fellow Social Workers,
With a new year upon us, now is the perfect opportunity to look at ways we can enrich our lives. Some are making travel plans for the future while others are taking courses or volunteering. Yet there is another option that for many of us, will give us that needed break from our social work jobs - hobbies.
With a quick search on the internet you can get hundreds of hobby ideas online. Many can be done alone if you like solitary pursuits while others can be done in groups. They might take you outside of your community or there are those that can be done in the comfort of your own home. There is likely as many hobbies as there are types of personalities!
I admit, I wish I had more hobbies. I would say blogging is my primary hobby although I definitely have interests in other areas. Most days when I finish work I just like to come home and relax and hobbies usually get put to the back burner. And then my weekends are used to catch-up on errands or to visit with family and friends.
But having hobbies outside of work is healthy for your body and mind. And as my mother keeps telling me, I focus a lot on my work! But being a social worker carries so much responsibility and at times the work can feel crushing. Sometimes you just need quiet time to do nothing and relax. But if you find you have a little but of extra time outside of work I would seriously consider pursing a hobby. It can give you something interesting to talk about, provide you with additional skills (that do not relate to your job) and help you to meet interesting people you might never have had the opportunity to meet before. And the great thing about hobbies is they can be put on hold when need be and you can easily pick them up again when you are ready. And you don't have to stick with the same hobby forever, you can change it up based on your interests!
As Always,
Patti
With a new year upon us, now is the perfect opportunity to look at ways we can enrich our lives. Some are making travel plans for the future while others are taking courses or volunteering. Yet there is another option that for many of us, will give us that needed break from our social work jobs - hobbies.
With a quick search on the internet you can get hundreds of hobby ideas online. Many can be done alone if you like solitary pursuits while others can be done in groups. They might take you outside of your community or there are those that can be done in the comfort of your own home. There is likely as many hobbies as there are types of personalities!
I admit, I wish I had more hobbies. I would say blogging is my primary hobby although I definitely have interests in other areas. Most days when I finish work I just like to come home and relax and hobbies usually get put to the back burner. And then my weekends are used to catch-up on errands or to visit with family and friends.
But having hobbies outside of work is healthy for your body and mind. And as my mother keeps telling me, I focus a lot on my work! But being a social worker carries so much responsibility and at times the work can feel crushing. Sometimes you just need quiet time to do nothing and relax. But if you find you have a little but of extra time outside of work I would seriously consider pursing a hobby. It can give you something interesting to talk about, provide you with additional skills (that do not relate to your job) and help you to meet interesting people you might never have had the opportunity to meet before. And the great thing about hobbies is they can be put on hold when need be and you can easily pick them up again when you are ready. And you don't have to stick with the same hobby forever, you can change it up based on your interests!
As Always,
Patti
Wednesday, 25 December 2013
The Holidays and the Social Worker
Happy Holidays Readers,
I have not had anything too interesting to write about in the last month. Work has been evenly busy and my relationship with my supervisor has been alright. There are a lot of changes happening in the agency I work for and there is the potential for more openings to be coming up in the future. In anticipation of this I have been doing a lot of reflecting about where I am career-wise and where I want to be. In general I am not looking to take on more responsibility, more travel or more irregular hours. Undoubtedly I will be taking a pay-hit if I take another job at my agency since it very likely won't be a social work job. I am still firm in my belief that my current social work job will be the last one I have.
But alas, on to my blog post topic of the holidays. For most of us this is a restful time with a quieter caseload and days off provided by the agency we work for. It's a time when we get to reflect on ourselves, and our relationships with family and friends. With the New Year coming we are also thinking to the next year and what our personal and career goals will be. My resolution is not to make any resolutions since I don't want to set myself up to fail with unrealistic goals. I do however, vow to have a better year than the last one and to not repeat the mistakes I made previously.
So my advice then for you dear readers during this holiday season is to try and relax even though it may be hard since you are so used to going a mile a minute at work! Think about what gives meaning to you both at work and in your personal life and try to take small steps in that direction. You do not have to share your dreams with anyone and you don't even need to justify them to yourself. Dreams give us passion and this is definitely the right time of year to embrace in the possibilities!
As Always,
Patti
I have not had anything too interesting to write about in the last month. Work has been evenly busy and my relationship with my supervisor has been alright. There are a lot of changes happening in the agency I work for and there is the potential for more openings to be coming up in the future. In anticipation of this I have been doing a lot of reflecting about where I am career-wise and where I want to be. In general I am not looking to take on more responsibility, more travel or more irregular hours. Undoubtedly I will be taking a pay-hit if I take another job at my agency since it very likely won't be a social work job. I am still firm in my belief that my current social work job will be the last one I have.
But alas, on to my blog post topic of the holidays. For most of us this is a restful time with a quieter caseload and days off provided by the agency we work for. It's a time when we get to reflect on ourselves, and our relationships with family and friends. With the New Year coming we are also thinking to the next year and what our personal and career goals will be. My resolution is not to make any resolutions since I don't want to set myself up to fail with unrealistic goals. I do however, vow to have a better year than the last one and to not repeat the mistakes I made previously.
So my advice then for you dear readers during this holiday season is to try and relax even though it may be hard since you are so used to going a mile a minute at work! Think about what gives meaning to you both at work and in your personal life and try to take small steps in that direction. You do not have to share your dreams with anyone and you don't even need to justify them to yourself. Dreams give us passion and this is definitely the right time of year to embrace in the possibilities!
As Always,
Patti
Sunday, 24 November 2013
Boundaries and the Social Worker
Hello Readers,
I want to give a special mention to those Social Workers who are in the military as in Canada November 11 was Remembrance Day. These Social Workers face unique challenges that many of us will never experience. Often they are in the trenches (at least metaphorically) with the people they are trying to help. They too are missing their family members and friends on top of facing professional isolation. There is likely little separation between their work and personal lives when they are on duty and their own safety can be put at risk in work zones. Anyway, I wanted to let those Social Workers know we are thinking of them.
In regards to the topic of my post, this is something I have been working very hard on lately. Creating boundaries. Most of the time I feel this heavy weight of responsibility on my shoulders - at work and at home. I worry about my career and if it is on track. I hope I am making the best decisions possible for my future and for my life today. And I am learning to say no when work cuts into my personal time, especially when it doesn't need to. Also, I feel like I am doing a better job at educating my supervisor about how long my job really takes to do because the time frames she gives me are often not realistic. For my personal life, I am now creating boundaries with my volunteering. The person I am supposed to be helping has been stringing me along and as much as my mother wants me to keep trying I am getting frustrated. I do not like chasing people when it's not related to work! Like many Social Workers I have been so good at giving thoughtful advice to others, and now I am beginning to realize I deserve the same amount of consideration for myself. I am learning what I can handle and what my boundaries are and I am now starting to put up a fight when both are being threatened.
As Always,
Patti
I want to give a special mention to those Social Workers who are in the military as in Canada November 11 was Remembrance Day. These Social Workers face unique challenges that many of us will never experience. Often they are in the trenches (at least metaphorically) with the people they are trying to help. They too are missing their family members and friends on top of facing professional isolation. There is likely little separation between their work and personal lives when they are on duty and their own safety can be put at risk in work zones. Anyway, I wanted to let those Social Workers know we are thinking of them.
In regards to the topic of my post, this is something I have been working very hard on lately. Creating boundaries. Most of the time I feel this heavy weight of responsibility on my shoulders - at work and at home. I worry about my career and if it is on track. I hope I am making the best decisions possible for my future and for my life today. And I am learning to say no when work cuts into my personal time, especially when it doesn't need to. Also, I feel like I am doing a better job at educating my supervisor about how long my job really takes to do because the time frames she gives me are often not realistic. For my personal life, I am now creating boundaries with my volunteering. The person I am supposed to be helping has been stringing me along and as much as my mother wants me to keep trying I am getting frustrated. I do not like chasing people when it's not related to work! Like many Social Workers I have been so good at giving thoughtful advice to others, and now I am beginning to realize I deserve the same amount of consideration for myself. I am learning what I can handle and what my boundaries are and I am now starting to put up a fight when both are being threatened.
As Always,
Patti
Saturday, 9 November 2013
Should You Take a Temporary Social Work Job?
Hi Readers,
Some of you might be currently working in a temporary social work job while others may be considering it. I know of several social workers who have taken a temporary position - often to cover a maternity leave. I myself have never had a temporary social work job but here are my thoughts on it based on the observations made from the experiences of my temp social work colleagues.
You may be new to the city, fresh out of school, burnt out in your current position, or recently laid off. You need a job as soon as possible and the only job you could find or were offered is a temporary one. Hmm, now the question becomes should you accept it or wait for a permanent position to come up? Here are the pros and cons to accepting a temporary social work position which might help you to make your decision:
PROS
- You are not committed to remain at the job for a long period of time so if you don't like it you can leave when the term is over
Some of you might be currently working in a temporary social work job while others may be considering it. I know of several social workers who have taken a temporary position - often to cover a maternity leave. I myself have never had a temporary social work job but here are my thoughts on it based on the observations made from the experiences of my temp social work colleagues.
You may be new to the city, fresh out of school, burnt out in your current position, or recently laid off. You need a job as soon as possible and the only job you could find or were offered is a temporary one. Hmm, now the question becomes should you accept it or wait for a permanent position to come up? Here are the pros and cons to accepting a temporary social work position which might help you to make your decision:
PROS
- You are not committed to remain at the job for a long period of time so if you don't like it you can leave when the term is over
- You get to try out different types of social work areas before settling on one
- If you end up in a toxic work environment you can feel better knowing you will not be there forever
- You get the opportunity to network with different colleagues, supervisors and managers and you can use those connections in the future
- If you don't like living in one place for too long it is easier to move around with a temporary position
- You get to test out the job and if you like it and prove to be good at it, your employer is more likely to consider you should a similar full time position come up
CONS
- You don't have the security of a permanent income
- It could be hard saying goodbye to your clients and co-workers if you have good relationships with both
- It is harder to make long term plans if you don't know where you are going to be work-wise in the future
- You are concerned a lot of social work positions on your resume over a short period of time won't be attractive to future employers
- You loose out on the opportunity to move up in the organization which can only occur with time and experience
For myself, there were times I wish I had accepted temporary positions instead of permanent ones especially for some of the more stressful social work jobs I have had. It would have made it easier to move on since the decision of leaving would have been out of my hands. I wish employers would offer short listed candidates the opportunity to job shadow to see what the job is really about. I think a lot of us would have second thoughts after a close examination of the work environment and duties. However, some employers are betting on our naivete to fill high turnover high burnout positions. But whatever route you go, just be sure to listen to your heart and weigh the pros and cons carefully.
As Always,
Patti
Monday, 4 November 2013
Career Planning and the Social Worker
Hi Readers,
I have been racking my brain over the few weeks about what my work options are. I admit, in the last week work has calmed down more however the stress is still there. I am trying my best to decrease my responsibilities on the weekends so at least I can have a couple of days to relax. It is nice not to have a schedule, to sleep in and distract myself with some good t.v. During the rest of my spare time I research different careers in the hope that there is something out there that can better meet my needs. But it's not easy, especially with my social worker's critical eye. I read between the lines and see heaping amounts of responsibility, or crazy work hours or a lot of travel. Sigh. Then I start all over again.
I look at my agency which has several offices in different cities and I wonder if there is a position in another office that might be a better fit. I have even agreed to learn some new work tasks which could parlay into having the experience to do another job at my agency. It's a job with very limited travel and regular hours. However, I think it would be very challenging to finally get this job as it does not become available very often (like a couple times a decade!).
And then I had an idea yesterday which hit me like a bolt of lightening. I don't know why I didn't seriously consider this before. What about doing social work PART TIME? In about five years I will be able to afford to do this and I know there are positions at my agency that are part-time. It would allow me to have more time to pursue hobbies, volunteering and finally attain the elusive creature otherwise known as work life balance. Less pressure, less stress, less anxiety. It seems so appealing, especially if I can still have benefits as a part time worker. I do feel some guilt since I don't have a family as I imagine the reasons why many women who work part time due so because of family obligations. But I also know that keeping up with this hectic pace is insanity and I want to be able to enjoy my life more. I don't want to wait until I retire before I get to do all the things I wanted to do in my life.
However, career planning for social workers can be tricky. We always need to think a few steps ahead from where we are today to where we want to be tomorrow. And things can change so quickly like our health or our family situation. Our agencies also change and so do our job descriptions. The things we wanted for ourselves may no longer suffice. We may have reached our ultimate career goal and then find out we want something different. My only recommendation is try and see your career in small blocks. Imagine yourself where you want to be in the next year or five years. Then when you reach that new phase imagine new goals for yourself. And try to remember it is not one straight line up to the top. You do not need to become a supervisor or manager if that does not fit with your values, personality or talents. You can move up and then move back down. Or you can move across to do something different. There are many career options out there for us social workers and don't feel limited by other people's opinions of what your career path should look like. Listen to your body, mind and heart. I know I haven't taken a traditional career path, although whatever moves I make next I want them to be better-informed then the ones I made before.
As Always,
Patti
I have been racking my brain over the few weeks about what my work options are. I admit, in the last week work has calmed down more however the stress is still there. I am trying my best to decrease my responsibilities on the weekends so at least I can have a couple of days to relax. It is nice not to have a schedule, to sleep in and distract myself with some good t.v. During the rest of my spare time I research different careers in the hope that there is something out there that can better meet my needs. But it's not easy, especially with my social worker's critical eye. I read between the lines and see heaping amounts of responsibility, or crazy work hours or a lot of travel. Sigh. Then I start all over again.
I look at my agency which has several offices in different cities and I wonder if there is a position in another office that might be a better fit. I have even agreed to learn some new work tasks which could parlay into having the experience to do another job at my agency. It's a job with very limited travel and regular hours. However, I think it would be very challenging to finally get this job as it does not become available very often (like a couple times a decade!).
And then I had an idea yesterday which hit me like a bolt of lightening. I don't know why I didn't seriously consider this before. What about doing social work PART TIME? In about five years I will be able to afford to do this and I know there are positions at my agency that are part-time. It would allow me to have more time to pursue hobbies, volunteering and finally attain the elusive creature otherwise known as work life balance. Less pressure, less stress, less anxiety. It seems so appealing, especially if I can still have benefits as a part time worker. I do feel some guilt since I don't have a family as I imagine the reasons why many women who work part time due so because of family obligations. But I also know that keeping up with this hectic pace is insanity and I want to be able to enjoy my life more. I don't want to wait until I retire before I get to do all the things I wanted to do in my life.
However, career planning for social workers can be tricky. We always need to think a few steps ahead from where we are today to where we want to be tomorrow. And things can change so quickly like our health or our family situation. Our agencies also change and so do our job descriptions. The things we wanted for ourselves may no longer suffice. We may have reached our ultimate career goal and then find out we want something different. My only recommendation is try and see your career in small blocks. Imagine yourself where you want to be in the next year or five years. Then when you reach that new phase imagine new goals for yourself. And try to remember it is not one straight line up to the top. You do not need to become a supervisor or manager if that does not fit with your values, personality or talents. You can move up and then move back down. Or you can move across to do something different. There are many career options out there for us social workers and don't feel limited by other people's opinions of what your career path should look like. Listen to your body, mind and heart. I know I haven't taken a traditional career path, although whatever moves I make next I want them to be better-informed then the ones I made before.
As Always,
Patti
Sunday, 27 October 2013
Supervisor Update Part 1
Hi Everyone,
I figured I would give you an update about my work situation. The rest of the week has been equally stressful as it was earlier. More crises came up at work which had to be dealt with. I suppose that is one of the hardest things I find about my work - the surprises. I feel like I have everything under control and then another thing comes up and I have to jump into crisis mode. It's terrible for my anxiety and I am starting to get physical symptoms too like chest pain. My supervisor is not helping either. The other day she said that basically my clients like her more than me. Sigh. That was the last thing I needed to hear at the end of a very long week. What she doesn't understand is that I need to ensure my programs are following policy and I can't always be their best friend. It is not that I am mean to them or unfair, I am just doing my job. And not being in a front line position, I don't think my supervisor can understand that. She then also gave me a dig about how much time I had spent at a program. Another sigh. I don't know if I intimidate her or she thinks I will eventually go after her job but that's not the case. Maybe this is one of the drawbacks in working in a mostly female dominated field - the drama.
For the past several weeks I have been considering my options. I have enough debt that I need to stay at this job for at least 3-5 years. I wonder about transferring to another position within my agency after that but to be honest I am getting tired of dealing with the public and having a caseload. Since I am an introvert I am wondering if I should look at something quieter and more suited to my character. I believe I went into social work with the best intentions of wanting to help people but there are so many other things involved. I would love for my world to be more concrete instead of constantly having to consult and interpret grey policies to do my job. I suppose it's more independence I am after. But I don't want to consider a large decrease in pay either. I have looked at some online certificate programs that are quite different from social work - but I feel that eventually I will become unsatisfied with those jobs as well.
I am greatly inspired when I read stories of people leaving their cubicles to travel but I don't know if I am that adventurous. I have done my best to limit my obligations - I have no husband or children but I do have my debts. However, once they are paid I will have more freedom. Of course, there is also the option of staying in my job and field. New supervisors and management will come and then go. The agency will change and so will my duties in the future. I could travel more as a way of making up for my stress at work but I am afraid of becoming angry and bitter inside. Maybe the key is getting out of an office environment or finding a job where I can work more on my own with a routine set of tasks since I seem to do better with routine.
My mother has suggested I speak to a career counselor about my options and I agree with her. It is something I am going to pursue in the new year. She asks me when I am going to stay in one job for a while and stop moving around. To be honest I don't find that very fair. Several of my co-workers have tried different social work jobs and there are others who I know who have left the field entirely. It's a fine balance for me, I need to protect my health while also supporting myself. I think a lot of people are in this boat and not just social workers. Society puts a lot of demands on us - to be confident, successful, wealthy, expert multi-taskers. And if we don't fit or reject the mould we are seen as social misfits and questioned by any and all. But deep down I think a lot of us are just trying to find our place in this world and many through our jobs. However, since I don't see my situation changing any time soon I have resolved this week that I am not going to let the drama and crises get to me since I won't be in this job forever.
As Always,
Patti
I figured I would give you an update about my work situation. The rest of the week has been equally stressful as it was earlier. More crises came up at work which had to be dealt with. I suppose that is one of the hardest things I find about my work - the surprises. I feel like I have everything under control and then another thing comes up and I have to jump into crisis mode. It's terrible for my anxiety and I am starting to get physical symptoms too like chest pain. My supervisor is not helping either. The other day she said that basically my clients like her more than me. Sigh. That was the last thing I needed to hear at the end of a very long week. What she doesn't understand is that I need to ensure my programs are following policy and I can't always be their best friend. It is not that I am mean to them or unfair, I am just doing my job. And not being in a front line position, I don't think my supervisor can understand that. She then also gave me a dig about how much time I had spent at a program. Another sigh. I don't know if I intimidate her or she thinks I will eventually go after her job but that's not the case. Maybe this is one of the drawbacks in working in a mostly female dominated field - the drama.
For the past several weeks I have been considering my options. I have enough debt that I need to stay at this job for at least 3-5 years. I wonder about transferring to another position within my agency after that but to be honest I am getting tired of dealing with the public and having a caseload. Since I am an introvert I am wondering if I should look at something quieter and more suited to my character. I believe I went into social work with the best intentions of wanting to help people but there are so many other things involved. I would love for my world to be more concrete instead of constantly having to consult and interpret grey policies to do my job. I suppose it's more independence I am after. But I don't want to consider a large decrease in pay either. I have looked at some online certificate programs that are quite different from social work - but I feel that eventually I will become unsatisfied with those jobs as well.
I am greatly inspired when I read stories of people leaving their cubicles to travel but I don't know if I am that adventurous. I have done my best to limit my obligations - I have no husband or children but I do have my debts. However, once they are paid I will have more freedom. Of course, there is also the option of staying in my job and field. New supervisors and management will come and then go. The agency will change and so will my duties in the future. I could travel more as a way of making up for my stress at work but I am afraid of becoming angry and bitter inside. Maybe the key is getting out of an office environment or finding a job where I can work more on my own with a routine set of tasks since I seem to do better with routine.
My mother has suggested I speak to a career counselor about my options and I agree with her. It is something I am going to pursue in the new year. She asks me when I am going to stay in one job for a while and stop moving around. To be honest I don't find that very fair. Several of my co-workers have tried different social work jobs and there are others who I know who have left the field entirely. It's a fine balance for me, I need to protect my health while also supporting myself. I think a lot of people are in this boat and not just social workers. Society puts a lot of demands on us - to be confident, successful, wealthy, expert multi-taskers. And if we don't fit or reject the mould we are seen as social misfits and questioned by any and all. But deep down I think a lot of us are just trying to find our place in this world and many through our jobs. However, since I don't see my situation changing any time soon I have resolved this week that I am not going to let the drama and crises get to me since I won't be in this job forever.
As Always,
Patti
Wednesday, 23 October 2013
Supervision and the Social Worker
Hello Dear Readers,
As promised, I am updating more regularly now!
I am experiencing something at work which I would like to discuss. For the most part I have a great supervisor. We hang out sometimes outside of work, and she is usually readily available to go over questions or complex situations with me. She is close in age to me and we have some common interests. The problem I am having is that at home she texts me about work. This in turn gets me anxious about work because I am not there to address the issues. Another big problem is that when something goes wrong at work she makes me feel responsible for it, even when it is out of my control. If a client wants our agency to do something for them and it does not necessarily follow policy she makes me feel like the bad guy for questioning it. However if something was to go wrong I know I would get in trouble. I work very hard for my clients and am very thorough in my process however my supervisor constantly points out flaws in my methods. I always get my work done well but it never feels good enough. It's like I am always doing something wrong and it eats at my self esteem and confidence. It's like I will never be good enough at my job or have enough knowledge as she has.
Hmm, what is a social worker to do? I feel like she is selling me out and siding with my clients when it is convenient to her. It's times like this I want to run away screaming from my social work/office environment. And when I say office environment I mean that I know this happens at many other work places. It is not exclusive just to social workers. In sucks knowing that your supervisor does not have your back - and that they do not care about your feelings. And as my mother likes to say, your boss is not your friend. This is one of the reasons why I cannot see myself in a management position. This is because the higher up you go the more political your position becomes. You become terrified the clients will complain if they don't get what they want. And that is the problem with having such a public social work job - everyone is watching for your decisions but you can't make everyone happy.
As Always,
Patti
As promised, I am updating more regularly now!
I am experiencing something at work which I would like to discuss. For the most part I have a great supervisor. We hang out sometimes outside of work, and she is usually readily available to go over questions or complex situations with me. She is close in age to me and we have some common interests. The problem I am having is that at home she texts me about work. This in turn gets me anxious about work because I am not there to address the issues. Another big problem is that when something goes wrong at work she makes me feel responsible for it, even when it is out of my control. If a client wants our agency to do something for them and it does not necessarily follow policy she makes me feel like the bad guy for questioning it. However if something was to go wrong I know I would get in trouble. I work very hard for my clients and am very thorough in my process however my supervisor constantly points out flaws in my methods. I always get my work done well but it never feels good enough. It's like I am always doing something wrong and it eats at my self esteem and confidence. It's like I will never be good enough at my job or have enough knowledge as she has.
Hmm, what is a social worker to do? I feel like she is selling me out and siding with my clients when it is convenient to her. It's times like this I want to run away screaming from my social work/office environment. And when I say office environment I mean that I know this happens at many other work places. It is not exclusive just to social workers. In sucks knowing that your supervisor does not have your back - and that they do not care about your feelings. And as my mother likes to say, your boss is not your friend. This is one of the reasons why I cannot see myself in a management position. This is because the higher up you go the more political your position becomes. You become terrified the clients will complain if they don't get what they want. And that is the problem with having such a public social work job - everyone is watching for your decisions but you can't make everyone happy.
As Always,
Patti
Sunday, 20 October 2013
The Overly Stressed Social Worker
Hello Readers,
Sorry there is no picture with this blog post today but I just got a new computer and only realize now that I should have gotten a mouse!
One big reason as to why I have not been writing regularly is because of my very broken computer. I kept it for as long as I could since it has a nostalgia factor for me. You see my mother bought it for me when I first became a social worker which was during a time when I didn`t have much money. It was an unbelievably generous gift on her part but I figure it`s time to move on since it is hard to type a blog on my cellphone.
Now I will give you all an update on my work situation. It has been extremely busy and stressful lately. Even though I do not have a traditional social work job any more I still have a caseload. And several of the clients on my caseload are having difficulties - which I am even hearing about from the community. Many of my clients are expecting me to make big decisions for them. They are wanting me to be the bad guy to those they are accountable to. And overall I am feeling trapped by grey policies which I am trying to interpret to the best of my abilities. My supervisor is not being supportive and right now the expectations I have on me are pretty ridiculous. I have a lot of paperwork due soon and I seriously question how it is all going to get done. And the worst part is I feel like my superiors will be judging me on my performance which they will likely view as inadequate when I cannot meet these deadlines. Ugh! I try and explain to those around me that I have a lot of responsibility and accountability in my job but I don`t think they quite grasp it.
For many social work jobs the pressure that is put on us is considerable. Our decisions, actions and inactions have far reaching consequences. Lives are impacted by what we do - and it is often the safety and security of others that can be effected. We have a lot of people looking at us - especially when there are problems. And where I work I cannot escape my clients - I run into them all the time in the community. Therefore I am always the social worker, even in my personal life.
I think my problem is I care deeply for my work. I try and give it 110% everyday and I don`t like it when the odds get stacked against me backing me into a corner. I hate how things become my fault when I have no control over these crises in the first place. I suppose it is the amount of responsibility that is truly getting me down.
And whenever work becomes overly stressful and intimidating I begin to daydream about a different life. Like most people I begin to wonder what it would be like if I was doing something else. I wonder about a job where it wouldn`t be suggested to me I take anxiety medication in order to `cope` with it. I dream about a job which is more concrete - where making decisions isn`t so hard because you have so many details and possibilities to consider. I imagine a job that has regular hours and where my employers respect my home life balance.
Overall I think about how much social work has taken from me. In general I feel exhausted after all I went through since becoming a social worker. I don`t know if there is a magically right job for me. But maybe social work just doesn`t match my personality no matter how hard I try and make it fit. All I know is that I have a lot of searching that I need to do and it is going to take time. I am wondering if this is the last social work job I will do. And I am seriously considering about moving on from this field in the future i.e within the next five years or so. Whatever I do next, I hope it is quieter. And the amount of money I get paid will not be the priority. I have learned that more money does not make you happier.
Anyway, I hope I did not depress you my dear readers with the update on my work situation. Honestly, the rest of my life is going fantastic! And I am very grateful for that as nothing is worse than having both your personal and professional life going awfully at the same time!
Also, now that I got my new computer you can be sure that I will be updating my blog more regularly!
As Always,
Patti
Sorry there is no picture with this blog post today but I just got a new computer and only realize now that I should have gotten a mouse!
One big reason as to why I have not been writing regularly is because of my very broken computer. I kept it for as long as I could since it has a nostalgia factor for me. You see my mother bought it for me when I first became a social worker which was during a time when I didn`t have much money. It was an unbelievably generous gift on her part but I figure it`s time to move on since it is hard to type a blog on my cellphone.
Now I will give you all an update on my work situation. It has been extremely busy and stressful lately. Even though I do not have a traditional social work job any more I still have a caseload. And several of the clients on my caseload are having difficulties - which I am even hearing about from the community. Many of my clients are expecting me to make big decisions for them. They are wanting me to be the bad guy to those they are accountable to. And overall I am feeling trapped by grey policies which I am trying to interpret to the best of my abilities. My supervisor is not being supportive and right now the expectations I have on me are pretty ridiculous. I have a lot of paperwork due soon and I seriously question how it is all going to get done. And the worst part is I feel like my superiors will be judging me on my performance which they will likely view as inadequate when I cannot meet these deadlines. Ugh! I try and explain to those around me that I have a lot of responsibility and accountability in my job but I don`t think they quite grasp it.
For many social work jobs the pressure that is put on us is considerable. Our decisions, actions and inactions have far reaching consequences. Lives are impacted by what we do - and it is often the safety and security of others that can be effected. We have a lot of people looking at us - especially when there are problems. And where I work I cannot escape my clients - I run into them all the time in the community. Therefore I am always the social worker, even in my personal life.
I think my problem is I care deeply for my work. I try and give it 110% everyday and I don`t like it when the odds get stacked against me backing me into a corner. I hate how things become my fault when I have no control over these crises in the first place. I suppose it is the amount of responsibility that is truly getting me down.
And whenever work becomes overly stressful and intimidating I begin to daydream about a different life. Like most people I begin to wonder what it would be like if I was doing something else. I wonder about a job where it wouldn`t be suggested to me I take anxiety medication in order to `cope` with it. I dream about a job which is more concrete - where making decisions isn`t so hard because you have so many details and possibilities to consider. I imagine a job that has regular hours and where my employers respect my home life balance.
Overall I think about how much social work has taken from me. In general I feel exhausted after all I went through since becoming a social worker. I don`t know if there is a magically right job for me. But maybe social work just doesn`t match my personality no matter how hard I try and make it fit. All I know is that I have a lot of searching that I need to do and it is going to take time. I am wondering if this is the last social work job I will do. And I am seriously considering about moving on from this field in the future i.e within the next five years or so. Whatever I do next, I hope it is quieter. And the amount of money I get paid will not be the priority. I have learned that more money does not make you happier.
Anyway, I hope I did not depress you my dear readers with the update on my work situation. Honestly, the rest of my life is going fantastic! And I am very grateful for that as nothing is worse than having both your personal and professional life going awfully at the same time!
Also, now that I got my new computer you can be sure that I will be updating my blog more regularly!
As Always,
Patti
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