Minding our mindfulness and self-care as clinicians is something we all sort of know we need to do, but how often do we actively do it? How often do you eat at your computer, not take a break for even a quick walk, or worry yourself sick over money or a client case?
This blog is a chance for you to take a pause, a deep breath, and think through the actual cost of what happens if you don’t pay attention to taking care of yourself: the wellness and growth of your clients, your business, and most importantly, yourself.
Self-care isn’t cliché. It needs to be intentional. You need to book on your calendar, along with client appointments and marketing on social media. If you have a business plan and marketing calendar, you should also have a self-care calendar.
While researching for this blog, I came across the perfect quote:
“You cannot keep giving to others if you do not give to yourself first. It is like pouring water from a vessel: you cannot pour and pour without ever refilling it – eventually, it will run dry.” Leslie K. Lobell (1)
Though it’s now become rote to reference putting on your own oxygen mask before assisting others, I propose that we can care for others and ourselves at the same time. That we can “unhustle” ourselves while being great clinicians, parents, and partners.
It was a startling revelation to me one night, while busily preparing for a long work weekend, to realize that I was just as important as my students! Imagine! The thought had never crossed my mind until that moment. I saw this as a signal of imbalance.
I looked back at my physical, mental, and emotional work habits. I was so wildly hard on myself—so destructive in some moments—all while doing my best to teach my clients self-love, acceptance, and non-judgment. Have you found yourself in this situation?
Mindfulness and Self-Care for Clinicians in the Research Literature
Mindfulness, self-care, and stress reduction programs for clinicians have been researched for their effectiveness and, in some areas, integrated into the conventional medical model. This is described in multiple places (2, 3, 4, 5). The technical name for what happens if clinicians don’t take their needs seriously is burnout. On a physical level, we might refer to it as adrenal insufficiency or exhaustion.
And the cost is impactful. In the world of nursing, reduced job effectiveness and nursing shortages are measured outcomes. For physicians, medical errors and difficult relationships with patients and co-workers are reported. But consider practitioner groups that aren’t widely studied, such as nutritionists, acupuncturists, and personal trainers, many of whom are entrepreneurs. What about the stress of clinical practice combined with the stress of owning a business? It’s immense.
So, what do you do?
Mindfulness and Self-Care Solutions for Clinicians
First, recognize that self-care deserves the same prioritization you give your business, your children, and your home. If you’re scheduling a blog, go ahead and schedule a 15-minute break for yourself after posting it. Breaks are crucial for the success and longevity of your career. And yours.
If this feels unattainable, you have to figure out what’s in your way. I have learned so much about developing new habits from experts in neuroscience and neuroplasticity, like Tara Swart. And how to see and call out my own BS from cognitive behavioral therapy pioneer David Burns.
I am a huge proponent of long walks in the woods and sitting barefoot on fresh grass. I love therapy, trauma-release work, and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction techniques, such as the Body Scan.
For you, resetting might be as simple as going on a hike alone and considering why prioritizing time to take care of yourself is difficult. Perhaps the answer is not so far out of reach.
Set an amount of time and step away from your work. What you do when you step away is not nearly as important as the actual stepping away! But the focus of this time is YOU.
Do you want to listen to your favorite music and dance around the house with your kids? Do you want to drink a cup of hot tea and watch the sunset? Do you want to do a 10-minute weight workout? Jump on the trampoline? Fry an egg? Take a long shower? Make an herbal tincture? Play the guitar? This is self-care, not somebody-else care. Do something that will make you feel good and connected to yourself again.
References
- https://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol-19-2014/No3-Sept-2014/Practicing-Self-Care-for-Nurses.html
- https://www.bmc.org/holistic-medicine-integrative-health/mindfulness-boston-medical-center
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0969733020940371
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5159423/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5041038/