Don’t Forget About Self-Care!

After 18 months of unrelenting change, HR professionals are burned out. HR teams have been the “invisible first responders” of the last year and a half, supporting employees through numerous crises. Unfortunately, the effects of the past year have left HR teams feeling stressed and emotionally exhausted. What human resources teams are experiencing is not quite burnout, but something similar: compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue is a condition often experienced by people who work in the helping professions such as doctors, nurses, teachers, HR professionals, and social workers. It occurs when an individual reaches a point of diminished capacity to empathize or care about others due to the constant exposure to other's pain.
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The symptoms of compassion fatigue include:

• Feelings of detachment, hopelessness, emotional numbing, and general anxiety.
• Lacking empathy, which can lead to a lack of motivation and feeling disconnected from others.
• Increased alcohol and drug abuse, as well as risk-taking behavior and aggression.
• Decreased productivity and the ability to focus.

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Here are a few tips to combat compassion fatigue:

Practice self-care. Practicing self-care can be a critical method of protecting yourself against compassion fatigue. It is not uncommon for those who are constantly concerned with the needs of others to wind up neglecting their own.

Set emotional boundaries. The challenge is to remain compassionate, empathetic, and supportive of others without becoming overly involved and taking on another’s pain. Setting emotional boundaries helps maintain a connection while still remembering and honoring the fact that you are a separate person with your own needs.

Engage in outside hobbies. Maintaining a solid work-life balance can help protect you from compassion fatigue. When all your time is spent working or thinking about work, it can be easy to burn out. Studies have shown work-life balance is becoming more important to workers and making time for leisure activities and personal hobbies outside of work can help lower stress levels and improve overall life satisfaction.

Identify workplace strategies. Workplace strategies are often an important part of compassion fatigue prevention. If your employer does not currently have any in place, consider suggesting their implementation. Some workplace strategies that have been proven to be beneficial are:

• Support groups and open discussions about compassion fatigue in the workplace
• Regular breaks
• Routine check-ins
• Mental health days
• Onsite counseling
• Relaxation rooms, massage, meditation classes, etc.

Use positive coping strategies. While it may be tempting to wash away the stress and emotional burdens of your job with alcohol, this can actually work in the reverse and compound stress in the long run. Consider making a list of positive coping strategies to use in times of stress. This might include deep breathing, meditation, taking a walk, talking with a friend, watching a funny movie, or relaxing in a hot bath.

​Seek personal therapy. If you find yourself feeling emotionally vulnerable, significantly stressed, or overwhelmed, consider seeing a therapist who can help you process your feelings and implement strategies to help you combat compassion fatigue and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
 
Knowing the signs and symptoms and continuing to check in with yourself can help you better prevent and manage compassion fatigue if it arises. You might be tired of the pandemic, but don’t let that erase your compassion.
Like with any kind of burnout, the key is making sure that we don’t get overloaded. It’s okay to take breaks for yourself. That’s how you come back energized and able to truly give.
 
Adapted from SHRM.