3 Ways to Eliminate Burnout NOW
Burnout in Private Practice and Ways to Get Rid of It
Around one year ago, with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, our lives drastically changed. Businesses permanently closed, jobs were lost, a new recession began, and fear of getting a new, relatively unknown virus became widespread. As a result of these abrupt, negative consequences, the need for mental health care increased, and many of us began offering fully remote sessions.
Despite the difficult transition, we’ve been able to support our clients and help them navigate the new normal for the foreseeable future. But what about when we need support? We’ve all been affected by the pandemic in different ways, and the risk of burnout remains higher than normal.
3 Ways to Eliminate Burnout
At the same time, we want to remind you that it’s still possible to create the life and business of your dreams. But in order to do that, it’s essential to address your own negative feelings. Here are three ways to eliminate burnout NOW, so you can start regaining control of your life today!
1. Establish Clear Boundaries with the People in Your Life and Business.
One of the quickest paths to burnout is to allow yourself to be available to all people at all times. Currently, most of our interactions are taking place online, but the medium doesn’t make much of a difference. If we’re always available, friends, acquaintances, family members, and clients can contact us whenever they’d like and may even be expecting an immediate response. This is not healthy, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with setting aside time for just yourself.
We suggest being proactive about this. Create a clear schedule in Google Calendar (or your preferred method) and make it public. Then, share it with the people in your life. If someone contacts you outside of your designated hours, wait until you’re available and send them a reminder with your calendar link. By completing this one step alone, you’ll already be feeling less burnout than you did before. As a bonus, you’ll probably receive fewer calls and texts.
2. When You Can’t or Don’t Want to Do Something, Say “No.”
This might sound fairly straightforward, but it’s not always as easy as it seems. When people ask you to do something, especially if they’re close to you, saying “no” might feel like a betrayal. After all, they’ve done so much for you, and rejecting their request could hurt their feelings or, worse, change how they view you. The good news: that’s a limiting belief, NOT your reality.
We’re here with a reminder that you don’t owe your time and well-being to anyone, regardless of all the kind, generous things they’ve done for you. Sometimes, you’re too busy or tired or simply uninterested to say “yes,” and making the decision to say “no” will actually benefit both of you.
Think about it: How do you feel when you say “yes” to things you actually want to say “no” to? Probably not good. And when you’re feeling poorly, you’re not going to be at peak performance. By saying “yes” to every request, burnout increases, resentment toward the people making the requests increases, and your ability to complete the requests in an appropriate manner decreases. In other words, the next time someone asks you to do something, answer them honestly.
3. Be Consistent with Methods 1 and 2.
Habits take time to develop, and the above methods are no exception. You might read this blog post and immediately start implementing changes in your life (we hope you do!), but what about the long term? What happens when you start answering clients outside of your calendar hours or saying “yes” to family members and friends when you really want to say “no”? Once you start breaking your own rules, it’s easy to dismiss them altogether and experience increased burnout.
If you notice yourself returning to old, unhealthy habits (lack of clear boundaries and saying “yes” to everyone), we encourage you to do two things:
1. Remind yourself that you’re human. Mistakes are part of life; they don’t mean you’re a “bad” or incapable person. You can acknowledge mistakes without internalizing them.
2. Think about the cons of continuing down this path (increased burnout and resentment, decreased well-being and productivity), and shift back into your new, healthy habits.
It’s going to take some time to adjust to these changes. You may be a mental health professional, but you’re not immune to the struggles your clients face. Take it one step (and day) at a time.
To recap, here are three ways you can start eliminating burnout TODAY:
1. Determine when you want to be available, and make your new schedule public.
2. Say “no” to things that don’t serve you, and remind yourself it benefits everyone.
3. Identify moments where you return to unhealthy habits, and refocus your direction.
Once you start incorporating these changes into your life and business, you’ll notice an immediate shift in how you feel. Less anxiety, less frustration, less burnout. And when you’re feeling better, you’ll be able to do more of what matters to you as a personal and professional.
But what if your burnout is resulting from more than a lack of boundaries and unwillingness to say “no”? What if you’ve been searching for the clarity to create an effective marketing plan — one that attracts the ideal clients for your private or group practice — but you’re feeling lost?
You’re invited to join Business School for Therapists! Ready to eliminate burnout, create an effective marketing plan that attracts ideal clients, and learn everything you need to know about creating the life and practice of your dreams? Sign up for the program today!
*To best support our community of mental health clinicians, LIMITED SPOTS are available for Business School for Therapists, and it may sell out before the last day of enrollment.
FREE Therapist Burnout Webinar
Your life doesn’t have to be an overwhelming experience categorized by stress and burnout. Ready to make a meaningful change in life and practice? You’re invited to the FREE Therapist Burnout Webinar, where you’ll learn how to recover for the long term and start loving life again!
