Most of us have the luxury of spending the holidays relaxing with our loved ones. But not everyone’s that lucky. Some are separated from their families; others don’t have a home to go back to. And for many, the new year doesn’t hold the normal excitement. Many people have endured yet another arduous and terrible year as a result of society's growing discontent. 

And who is there for all of these vulnerable people during the holiday season? — Social workers, societies selfless care givers, of course!

Do Social Workers Work Through Christmas and New Year?

It’s not like social workers can’t take time off during the holidays—many of them do. But the nature of their work can make it very difficult for them to disassociate from a case, even temporarily, and be able to enjoy holidays with family and friends.

Moreover, some social workers that work in emergency duty teams may have to work on weekends and holidays. This essentially makes them frontline workers, who regularly put others’ needs first, not only for the sake of their profession but because of their strong dedication.

How Can You Find Balance During the Holidays as A Social Worker?

It’s probably been a difficult year for you as a social worker, so it’s crucial to find a way to relax a bit during the holidays before the next year arrives. This year it’s even more necessary because, with rising inflation and other humanitarian crises worldwide, social work is bound to get more challenging.

Here’s what you can try.

Take Some Time Off

If you can’t take time off for the entirety of the holidays, find a way to make time for a brunch, lunch, or dinner with family and friends—whatever you can manage. Even the smallest breaks spent with loved ones can reenergize you.

And if you do have a few days off from work, actively try not to think about ongoing cases and focus on friends, family, and festivities. You shouldn’t feel guilty about it either! Taking time for yourself and recharging, makes you more refreshed and prepared to take on the challenges your job presents.

Do What You Love

Holidays are largely associated with delicious food, and that’s one of the best things about them. But while home-cooked meals maybe wonderful and sound perfect for holidays, they can also be a chore for some. So, during holidays if you don’t feel like cooking—just order takeout or pick-up a prepared meal from your local grocery store. The most important thing is to relax and enjoy time with your friends and family. No guilty feelings allowed.

On the other hand, if you like cooking and find it relaxing, then by all means cook up a storm. The goal is to take the holidays as an opportunity to put yourself first for a change. Find what brings you joy.

Keep Your Work Streamlined in General

One way to survive holidays and life as a social worker, in general, is to streamline and organize your work all year round. This would help you escape the burden of a larger caseload during the holidays since you’d be able to plan better. One way of achieving this is using an intuitive social services software.

For 25 years, Global Vision Technologies has been an industry leader in case management software for nonprofits. We have accumulated an amazing blog library on a variety of social service topics that are both enlightening and informative.

Recommended Reading:

10 Tips for Quick Case Manager Stress Relief (Infographic)

4 Time Management Tips for Social Workers

4 Ways to Become a Stronger Advocate for Your Health

Editor's Note: This post was originally published in December 2021 and has been updated with additional information and content.