Being a care home activity coordinator is a rewarding yet demanding role. You're responsible for creating a lively, engaging environment for residents, which requires creativity, patience, and a lot of energy.
However, the pressure to constantly deliver can sometimes lead to burnout, especially when the activity planning schedule starts to feel overwhelming.
To maintain both the quality of your work and your own wellbeing, it's essential to reset your activity planning schedule periodically and ensure you're taking care of yourself. September is the perfect time of the year for your quarterly review.
Take some time to reflect on your current schedule. What’s working well? What’s causing stress? Are there activities that consistently receive positive feedback, and others that seem to fall flat? Understanding these aspects will help you identify areas that need adjustment.
Ask questions!
Get feedback on which activities residents enjoy the most. This can provide insight into what to keep and what to tweak.
Look at your planning schedule over the past three months. Are there patterns of overworking or working from home? Are you constantly juggling between group activities and running out of time for 1 to1 activities? This can be a sign that it's time for a refresh.
After evaluating, it's time to prioritise. Not every activity needs to be a grand event. Sometimes, simpler activities can be just as meaningful and easier to manage.
Take action:
Identify a few key events each month that require more planning and make these your focus. Balance these with simpler, low-prep activities.
Consider monthly or weekly themes to guide your planning. This can streamline decision-making and create a cohesive experience for residents.
One of the most stressful aspects of activity planning is the feeling that you have to stick to a rigid schedule. By building in flexibility, you can reduce pressure on yourself and accommodate the varying energy levels and interests of residents.
Prepare a set of activities that can be done spontaneously or when other plans fall through.
Schedule some activities with flexible start times, allowing residents to join in when they're ready, rather than feeling pressured to be on time.
You don’t have to do everything alone.
Leveraging the skills and interests of other staff members, volunteers, and even the residents themselves can ease your workload and enrich the activity programme.
You may be able to come up with lots of interesting ideas by yourself, but remember, planning from scratch takes a lot longer than working from other people's ideas. Make the most of memberships for activity coordinators. Try mine or search for others to find the one that suits you best.
Taking care of yourself is crucial to maintaining the energy and creativity needed for your role. If you’re not feeling your best, it will be reflected in your work.
Designate time in your day where you are not available for work-related tasks. This could be as simple as taking your lunch break away from your desk or ensuring you leave on time.
Incorporate wellness practices into your routine, such as short walks, meditation, or simply taking a moment to breathe deeply.
Don’t hesitate to seek support if you’re feeling overwhelmed. Whether it’s talking to a supervisor, accessing professional counselling, or attending a workshop on stress management, taking proactive steps is important.
To keep your activity planning vibrant, look for new ideas and inspiration. Sometimes, a change of perspective is all you need to re-energise your approach.
Connect with other activity coordinators, either online or in person, to share ideas and best practices.
Consider attending workshops, webinars, or courses that can provide new ideas and techniques for activity planning. Continuous learning keeps your skills sharp and introduces you to new trends and tools.
Finally, remember to celebrate the small wins. Every time you see a resident smile, hear a laugh, or witness a moment of connection, acknowledge that you’re making a difference. These small successes are the fuel that keeps you going.
By reflecting on your current practices, simplifying them where necessary, building in flexibility, delegating tasks, and taking care of yourself, you can continue to create enriching experiences for residents without burning out.
Remember, a well rested, inspired activity coordinator is the key to a vibrant and engaging care home environment.
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