Patient Leader Certification: Balance and Burnout
What's one strategy for managing balance and burnout that you can use right away? Why did you choose it?
To better manage balance and prevent burnout, I love to have set days / times when I do my patient advocacy. Sometimes I'm not able to do all those hours in a day, so I'll just do what is on my "need to do" list for the day. I'll admit that I'm not as strict with not going onto social media on my time off so that's something I'm still working on. I love to spend some time in nature away from technology so I'll go hiking when possible!
I choose this method so I don't have to always feel like I'm "on" and can get some time to relax and just exist without any expectations of myself.I like to spend time in the kitchen when I can. It is a great way to do something I enjoy and helps me stay on top of my food triggers. Plus my dog likes to be a taste tester, so that always helps too
What really helps me prevent and better manage burnout is going for walks either alone or my a family member everyday. It also helps to put my phone in a different room than my bedroom to avoid wanting to surf social media all the time. I also find time to just play and have fun, its so great for my mental health.
Sometimes I get off a call and feel like the champion of the universe ... that I really made a difference in someone's life. Other times I feel like I really need a hug. I love having my dog around for some unconditional love when I need it, no questions asked. My Snowy was the "office dog" in our support organization for 13 years. She would "make the rounds" from desk to desk, offering a "fur fix" for tension. My latest office dog is equally sweet and intuitive.
