CARE Blueprint for Action
* "emotional labor" portrayed a negative connotation of the work that these groups do when that is not always the case, so I will now refer to this as "emotional-activation" or "emotionally-activated work"
MAIN FINDINGS
(1) Emotional Activation is mainly spurred by the consistent type of work and content peer-education and peer-counseling members interact with when supporting and being a resource for their fellow peers on campus.
- “Investing as a leader, friend, elder, etc. in someone else's life or problems emotionally and expending energy to focus on them”
- “The internal process to self-regulate in interactions with others”
- “I think I have a tendency to ignore my own needs if I feel like the well-being of the group as a whole is better served by me just pushing through. But sometimes I question how helpful I am actually being”
RECOMMENDATION FOR ACTION
(1) Ensure every member has a role that they believe will make an impact.
The most frequent response individuals reported for staying in their organization, despite emotional activation and toll, is the belief in the mission and values of the organization and feeling as though they are leaving a positive impact on their peers. It is important that members have some ownership over an initiative, project, or event to feel they belong and add value to the organization.
(2) Hold consistent and intentional check-ins.
The prerequisite to this is building a community and friendships with members outside of the work environment so everyone feels comfortable opening up and being honest about their mental state. Check-ins can be formal (i.e. feedback forms, individual meetings) or informal (i.e. pre-meeting question: "How are you feeling at this moment? Thumbs up, down, or sideways.").
(3) Integrate self-care activities into your weekly schedule.
Whether it is a quick 5-minute meditation before the end of an organization meeting or a longer, 20-minute craft session, allow time for self-care activities as a group. This will also initiate group bonding and community to prompt a sense of belonging. Additionally, encourage members to self-care throughout the week, reiterating the importance of self-care for top performance.
