Burnout and self-care

Abstract

I think effective altruism often runs into questions about self-care and boundaries, and might have a few things to learn from social work. For people in helping professions (like nurses, therapists, and clergy), training programs often warn against burnout and “compassion fatigue.” To prevent this, training emphasizes self-care. Self-care might include exercise, sleep, spending time with loved ones, spiritual practice, hobbies, and (at least among my coworkers) the latest episode of “Scandal.” My workplace asks every prospective hire about self-care, because we want someone who has a plan for not burning out.