Health and Human Services Professional Development

Avoiding Burnout: Human Services Program Administration Professionals by   Mikki Sherwood   on   August 16, 2013   It is personally rewarding to work in a human development and family studies (HDFS) career. It is also challenging in many ways as professionals in the area of FCS and HDFS face unique challenges. For instance, often those that work in HDFS are at the mercy of government funding, leading to a feeling of insecurity related to employment possibilities. In addition, we tend to make less money than those working in other areas of family and consumer sciences (for example, consumer studies or entrepreneurs). Those of us that work in the helping profession also face a daunting array of regulations regarding proper documentation of expenses and activities (in other words, A LOT of paperwork). Finally, we can feel as if we are spinning our wheels if we do not see change occurring in those with whom we work. When we don’t perceive improvement in the qualit...

The Importance of Self-Care by   Elissa Mitchell   on   January 19, 2014 In today’s busy, do-it-all world, many of us are overburdened with responsibilities and never-ending to do lists. In an attempt to be the best student/friend/partner/employee/etc., we often forget the most important thing – taking care of ourselves. Whether you’re completing your internship, your final year(s) of college, or on the job market, stress is inevitable. Good self-care is important, especially in the often stressful field of human services. Taking time out to relax and care for yourself is important and makes you more capable of caring for others. There are many ways to do this and you need to find what works best for you. Taking a walk, talking with friends, exercising, or simply taking a nap are all important aspects of self-care. I encourage you to take a  Self-Care Assessment  to see how you’re doing. Think about ways to lower the stress in your life ( http://stress.about...

Final exam stress, self-care, and Starbucks by   Jill Bowers   on   May 8, 2014   Many of you are swamped and feeling the end of the semester heat.  The exams and final papers you are turning in could be critical to your course grade, GPA, or graduation. And, it’s important to stay focused and discipline yourself to study and complete coursework. At the same time, you have to take care of yourself along the way. Emotional and academic stress have been associated with  disturbed sleep  among college students, and the links between  sleep habits and academic performanc e are well-documented. Getting adequate sleep is just one example of how you can take care of yourself as you are mastering your end of the semester tasks. See the article,  Be Kind to Yourself , written by college student, Sofiya Ballin, for The Huffington Post and think about other ways you can engage in self-care during final exam week. You may also be comforted ...

End of the Semester Stress and Self-Care by   Jill Bowers   on   November 26, 2014   It’s that time of the semester…final exams, papers, projects, grades, and graduation. In addition to stress associated with school, many students are coping with emotions associated with holidays or gloomy/winter seasonal affect. International students, or those that live far away from family, may be especially at-risk for exhausted financial or emotional resources as they try to get home or figure out plans for winter break. And, many of you simply put so much pressure on yourselves as academic or organizational leaders that you forget or don’t take the time to take care of yourself in the way that your body and mind needs. Self-care can enhance your ability to cope with stress, anxiety, and depression. It can help you to have better cognitive focus and give you more energy. Engaging in self-care can also improve your mood, and some forms of self-care can aid in the develop...

                                                                    Omnipresence of Sugar By Shaun Hurdelbrink and Natasha Cole, MPH, RD on April 28, 2015 Are you aware of sugar’s omnipresence in your life or how much you truly consume? Added sugar is found in many foods: breakfast cereals, fruit juices, granola bars, ketchup, BBQ sauce, soymilk, energy drinks, protein bars, etc. You get the idea. Unsurprisingly, Americans consume “an average of more than 500 calories per day from added sugar alone.” 1  Not only do added sugars themselves contribute several hundred calories daily, but sugar’s low nutritional value makes people “continue to feel hungry” after consuming them. 2  Sugar not only contributes to obesity around the world, but it is also linked to other health problems such as: hypertension...

The morning of your job interview…just eat it. by   Natasha Chong Cole, MPH, RD   on   August 26, 2015   There are many ways that you can prepare for your job interview (see  here ), but one method of preparation that you may not have thought about involves nutrition. Here are 4 dietary tips to help you perform your best during your job interview: 1)       To Clear Your Mind Eat omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. Omega-3 fatty acids are important for brain health and  antioxidants  can enhance cognitive function. Excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids include flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts, and fatty fish (like salmon and tuna). Foods high in antioxidants include grapes, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, green tea, and red beans. 2)       To Give You Energy Eat lean protein and complex carbohydrates. These nutrients will help you stay full for longer and help regulat...