You're dedicated to patient advocacy. How do you recognize when your work-life balance is off?
As a patient advocate, your commitment to ensuring the best outcomes for those in your care is paramount. However, it's vital to recognize when this dedication starts to tip the scales against your personal well-being. Understanding the signs of an off-kilter work-life balance is crucial for maintaining your own health and the quality of your advocacy.
Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed and unable to meet constant demands. As a patient advocate, you might notice burnout manifesting as a sense of dread about work, a feeling of detachment from your patients, or a decline in job performance. These are signals that it's time to reassess your workload and find strategies to restore balance.
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Hamze Salhab
MSF International Mobile Staff | Registered Nurse | Emergency Specialist | Patient Safety Specialist
Emotional Exhaustion: Feeling overwhelmed by the constant challenges, setbacks, and heartbreaking situations you encounter. Decreased Empathy: Finding it harder to empathize with fellow advocates, patients, and families due to the emotional drain. Cynicism and Negativity: Developing a negative outlook on many aspects of the patient experience, including doubting the impact you can make.
Your body often sends signals that your work-life balance may be off. Persistent tiredness, frequent headaches, or changes in appetite can all be indicators. If you find yourself getting sick more often or struggling to shake off minor illnesses, it could be a sign that stress is impacting your immune system. Paying attention to these health cues is essential for maintaining the stamina required for patient advocacy.
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Jessica Siewert, CCHWII
Your wellness journey should last a lifetime.
Showing up for patients requires us to be our best selves and modeling healthy balance in life but also knowing that in that balance lies imperfections, off balance-regardless of our best intentions, and burnout. Self reflection and self care are vital to being able to be sensitive to the beginning signs and being able to take time to find a clear perspective and purpose to be present in the daily grind.
Emotionally, a skewed work-life balance can lead to feelings of anxiety, irritability, or depression. You may find yourself less patient than usual, quicker to frustration, or feeling disconnected from family and friends. If you notice that your emotional state is consistently low or you're experiencing mood swings, it's important to take a step back and evaluate your current work-life dynamic.
Social relationships can suffer when work takes precedence over personal time. If you're missing important family events, consistently canceling plans with friends, or you can't remember the last time you had a leisurely activity for yourself, these are red flags. As a patient advocate, fostering strong personal relationships is as important as professional ones—they provide a support system and a necessary escape from work stresses.
Effective time management is key to maintaining work-life balance. If you're constantly working late, bringing work home, or using up your weekends for work-related tasks, your balance might be off. It's essential to set boundaries and allocate time for rest and relaxation. Remember, being productive also means giving yourself permission to unplug and recharge.
Sometimes, recognizing an imbalance requires an outside perspective. Don't hesitate to seek support from colleagues, friends, or family members who can provide an objective view of your situation. Professional help, such as counseling or coaching, can also be beneficial in managing stress and developing strategies to improve your work-life balance.
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Hamze Salhab
MSF International Mobile Staff | Registered Nurse | Emergency Specialist | Patient Safety Specialist
Self-Care Signs Neglect of Personal Needs: Neglecting your own physical and emotional needs, leading to further burnout. Lack of Self-Compassion: Not being kind and forgiving to yourself, leading to increased stress and burnout. Time for Reflection Regular Self-Assessment: Making it a habit to assess your well-being on a routine basis to identify signs of burnout early on. Prioritizing Self-Care: Recognizing the importance of self-care and making time for it in your busy schedule.
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Jessica Siewert, CCHWII
Your wellness journey should last a lifetime.
It’s important to have a plan; 1) how to monitor for burnout, like what are your triggers? 2) what will you do daily and weekly to wind down and let go of any stressful or negative energy accumulated throughout your shift/week. 3) take pto and vacation time to make sure you are spending time with yourself, friends, and family 3) list of things that make you happy - not things you buy or people, but simple things like watching the sun set or playing with your pet and be sure to add as much of that into your day. 4) do Yoga, go to the gym, take a walk - be active! Find what makes your body, mind, and whole being healthy along with getting enough sleep and healthy diet.
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