Keeping Yourself in Sight: Maintaining WorkLife Balance

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Keeping Yourself in Sight Maintaining Work-Life
Balance

• MSHA Student Event
• Northeastern University
• March 28, 2009
• Suzanne M. Harris, MS CCC-SLP
• MSHA Past President

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Why Talk About This?

• We begin with my confession
• And our professions little known secret

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SLPs and Audiologists are really

• Artists Musicians
• Scientists Coaches
• Cheerleaders Behaviorists
• Engineers Counselors
• Magicians Detectives
• Logisticators/project managers
• Collaborators Visionaries

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The reality is

• Burn-out is a big problem in the professions
• There is a spectrum of burn-out
• It comes on gradually
• You can experience it in degrees
• PREVENTION is the key

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Reasons for burn-out

• Lack of control over many aspects of your job
• Unclear expectations in the workplace
• Dysfunctional dynamics
• Mismatch of values
• Poor job fit
• High activity level- energy needs

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So Why Am I Qualified to Talk About This?

• Students often make the best teachers
• I want you to learn from my successes and
  mistakes
• It is important to establish good habits early
• Taking care of yourself makes you a better
  clinician- we need you to stay!
• You can apply the same work ethic to this as you
  do to everything else- win/win!

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Reflect for a moment

• Why are you going into this field?
• What are your expectations about what it will be
  like?
• Think about what your professional life will
  entail- honestly
• WOW.

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Signs of Stress

• Stress can be acute or chronic
• Stress can be positive or negative
• Tension
• Headaches
• Rapid heart beat
• Nausea
• Irritability
• Frequent illness

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Signs of Stress

• Muscle aches
• Sadness
• Weight gain or loss
• Sleep issues
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Lack of focus
• Procrastination

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Mind-Body Connection

• Each affects the other
• Attitude is key in maintaining health
• Stress can impact your immune system and health

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More Secrets of the Professions

• You have a solid education, but.
• You may never be..
• So.
• Deep breath

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So What Can You DO?

• First, what does balanced living mean to you?
• What is most important to you in your life?
• Thanks to Joan Celebi for the following 10 Habits
  of Healthy Balanced Living material used with
  her permission

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Habit 1

• The ART of extreme self-care
• Get enough sleep
• Take care of your basic physical needs FIRST
• Check in with yourself regularly
• Drink plenty of water
• Get light/sun every day
• Dont give up your lunch or breaks

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Habit 1

• Think for a moment about your basic needs-- are
  they being taken care of now?
• Think about boundaries- the art of saying NO
• Would this be in the lifeboat?

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Habit 2

• SIMPLIFY your life How can you get things done
  without losing yourself?
• Delegate
• Low tech is ok
• Use what is already made clinically
• Use collection points

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Habit 2

• Looking at your To-DO List
• What can you cross off completely?
• What can be deferred to another time?
• How can you downshift extra commitments?
• Be sure to block time for yourself and
• Make time to tame your calendar/schedule

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Habit 3

• Get HELP. Share.
• What tasks can you outsource?
• You dont need to Do It ALL.

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Habit 4

• Get support
• Importance of peers, especially in CF year
• Good supervision is critical/partnership
• Network (MSHA membership!!!)
• Buddy up at work

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Habit 5

• Have FUN as often as possible
• Think of it as Vitamin F
• Maintain your hobbies
• Maintain your friendships, esp. with non-SLPs and
  Auds
• No Work Talk Zone

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Habit 6

• Make Time for Exercise
• Do what you love
• Make it an appointment
• Do it with friends
• Even a 5-10 minute walk at lunch can help you
  regroup

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Habit 7

• Smile and Laugh-OFTEN
• Build this into your sessions
• Laughter boosts the immune system
• It helps you maintain perspective too

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Habit 8

• Be in the Moment
• Hang onto your passion remember why you are here
• Go easy on yourself
• Be present with your client- MINDFULNESS
• Remember that even on your worst day.

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Habit 9

• Keep yourself in sight
• Be a good advocate for yourself
• Develop your voice
• Honor yourself as the powerful and important
  person that you are
• Use stress management techniques
• Set goals for your self-care

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Setting Goals

• Goals should be SMART
• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Risk allow you to stretch
• Time limited

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Habit 10

• Hold onto your hats
• Throw perfection out the window
• Maintain the eagle view
• Use your resources well
• Avoid burn-out

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Closing Thoughts

• Questions and answers
• Thank you and be good to yourself!

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