How can you prioritize self-care in case management?

1 Assess your needs and risks

The first step to prioritizing self-care is to assess your own needs and risks as a case manager. You can use tools such as the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL) or the Self-Care Assessment Worksheet (SCAW) to measure your levels of compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. You can also identify your personal and professional stressors, triggers, and coping strategies. By doing this, you can gain insight into your strengths and areas of improvement, and set realistic and attainable goals for your self-care plan.

2 Develop a self-care plan

A self-care plan is a document that outlines how you will take care of yourself in different domains of your life, such as physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and professional. A self-care plan should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART), and should include both daily and weekly activities that help you recharge, relax, and reflect. For example, your self-care plan could include exercising for 30 minutes every day, meditating for 10 minutes every morning, calling a friend once a week, attending a support group once a month, or taking a vacation once a year.

3 Implement and monitor your self-care plan

Having a self-care plan is not enough; you also need to implement and monitor it regularly. You can use tools such as a self-care calendar, a journal, or an app to track your progress and challenges. You can also seek feedback and support from your colleagues, supervisors, mentors, or peers. You should review your self-care plan periodically and make adjustments as needed. You should also celebrate your achievements and reward yourself for your efforts.

4 Seek professional help when needed

Sometimes, self-care is not enough to cope with the demands and pressures of case management. You may experience signs and symptoms of burnout, compassion fatigue, or vicarious trauma, such as exhaustion, detachment, cynicism, irritability, guilt, anxiety, depression, insomnia, or substance abuse. If you notice any of these signs and symptoms, you should seek professional help as soon as possible. You can consult your employee assistance program (EAP), your health insurance provider, or your local mental health agency for referrals and resources. You can also access online or phone-based counseling or crisis services if you need immediate support.

5 Advocate for organizational change

Self-care is not only an individual responsibility; it is also a collective and organizational one. As a case manager, you can advocate for organizational change that supports your well-being and resilience. You can raise awareness and educate your managers and leaders about the importance and benefits of self-care in case management. You can also request and suggest policies and practices that promote a healthy and supportive work environment, such as flexible schedules, reasonable caseloads, regular supervision, peer support, training, and recognition.

6 Learn and grow from your experience

Self-care is not a one-time event; it is a continuous and dynamic process that evolves with your experience as a case manager. You can learn and grow from your challenges and successes, and use them as opportunities to enhance your skills, knowledge, and competence. You can also share your insights and best practices with other case managers, and contribute to the development and improvement of the profession. By doing this, you can increase your sense of meaning, purpose, and satisfaction in your work, and ultimately, improve the outcomes and quality of life of your clients.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?