The term “burnout” was first defined in Herbert Freundenberger’s 1974 book, Burnout: The High Cost of High Achievement. It was described as “the extinction of motivation, especially where one’s devotion to a cause or relationship fails to produce the desired results.”
This definition is particularly relevant in the child welfare field, which has an annual turnover rate of approximately 30 percent. While most people attribute this to emotional exhaustion, overtime work, and high caseloads, the underlying cause is much simpler: a lack of results.
The average case stays in the foster care system for four years. The average time between court dates is about six months. Something as simple as arranging a dentist's appointment can take upwards of three weeks. Positive outcomes are eventually achieved, but on a much slower timeline than people are used to.
From exercise to journaling to going on vacation, the internet has a myriad of proposed solutions to this “extinction of motivation.” There are also an equal number of motivational quotes such as “burn bright, not out” and my favorite, “just because you take breaks doesn’t mean you're broken.”
Ultimately, what helps is acknowledging the small victories: congratulating a parent when they show up to a visit or high fiving a kid when a safety check is successful. While these actions may seem trivial, they mean a lot to the people being congratulated, many experiencing such recognition for the first time. Celebrating these victories plays a crucial role in combating burnout, highlighting the idea that progress is being made.
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