Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed, not sure of where to begin with concerns of and for patients, others and work. What about you? Your training to always put the patient first, may have pushed your self-awareness back so far that you no longer know what is important to you. Fatigue and a low sense of self-worth contribute to this. Establish clear boundaries to prevent and recover from burnout.
Caring for others starts with self-care. The first boundary you set can be to set aside time daily to center yourself and reflect. You can start with a little as 3 minutes. You can ask yourself several questions daily. Here are three to start with.
- What am I grateful for?
- What do I need today?
- What is one thing, no matter how small, that will increase my joy today?
As you become more aware, you will be able to identify aspects of your life which will provide the most benefit to you, as well as notice your limitations. With this knowledge, set clear boundaries to ensure that you will be able to engage in the valued activities. Regarding overcoming limits, remember, you get to choose which and when you want to stretch; when you’re burnt-out is not the optimal time to take on challenges.
There are some standard boundaries people think of,
- Turn off the computer by specific time
- Not do notes at home
- Specific days and times to engage in exercise
In addition to these, there are more personal boundaries that you set to meet your needs. For example, specific time you will be available to your family daily, time set aside for choir practice or another hobby, number and type of volunteer commitments you’ll be involved with.
- Explore what you need
- Make specific and clear requests of yourself. It is a lot easier for you to stick to your boundaries when you know what they are.
- Block out the time on your calendar
- Let others know what your boundary is. You don’t have to share what you’ll be doing with your time. Others can only accommodate you when they know what is needed.
The more clear the boundary is, the easier it is for you to follow through.
For more ways to personalize your well-being and live with more joy, contact me.
Revitalize Your Life,
Dina, Well-Being Coach
203.744.YOU3 (9683)
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