The Vibrant Therapist Spotlight has returned from summer hiatus. This month I decided to do something a little different. Instead of interviewing just one therapist, several therapists from across the country were invited to share the strategies they use to stay on top of tasks both in their personal lives and in their practices.
The question posed to the therapists featured this month was…..
What is your best tip or strategy for managing (AKA juggling) personal and practice tasks & responsibilities?
As you know, as humans + therapists + entrepreneurs we often have lots of balls in the air and it’s easy to drop a few here and there. Finding solid routines and strategies that work for us is essential to managing our personal and professional responsibilities with more ease and vibrancy.
Elizabeth, Merrill, PsyD, ABPP works full-time as a clinical psychologist at the Togus VA in Maine while also providing online therapy for clients who reside in Maine, New York and Illinois.
When asked about how she manages two jobs and her family, Elizabeth shared, “My google calendar is my go-to assistant! I enjoy practicing my Spanish with my Spanish teacher over Skype (who resides in Guatemala) and I plan an international trip alone with my husband every year in order to recharge.”
Stefanie Juliano, MS, LPCC owns Stefanie Juliano Therapy, LLC in Rio Rancho, NM.
Stefanie shares, “Not saying yes to everything and coming to terms with FOMO (fear of missing out) was my saving grace. Now-it may seem fun to do get together with my friends with same age children weekly, however, in reality, every other week is actually much better for my overall sense of well-being.
When I noticed that all to familiar feeling of ‘oh no, it’s almost time for—insert activity—‘ I know it’s time to re-evaluate what I’m saying yes to. I’ve also realized that taking time for myself is vital. It’s often hard to give yourself permission to rest when there’s so much to always be doing and that’s when it’s needed the most.”
Nikki Arthur, MA, LMFT has an online practice serving clients in Iowa and Minnesota.
Nikki says, “One of the things that I do for myself is I write in my planner – Yes, I still use a written planner in addition to my electronic calendar – “Pause, Breathe, Be grateful”. I do this as a reminder but also to serve as a mindful pause to remember why I do the work I do. I am a firm believer in your energy flows where your attention goes. So, as best I can, I try to come from a place of gratitude.”
Zoe Reyes LMFT provides therapeutic services at The Peak Counseling Group in Sacramento, CA
Zoe says “As far as trying to balance my personal life with my private practice business, I make sure that I don’t take on more clients than I can handle. This has been done through trial and error; I had a bad habit a few years ago of working long days and on weekends! I’ve since learned that just because a potential client calls, I don’t have to take them on. I usually refer out if I find my practice is beyond the number that I feel comfortable managing. I have also set strict boundaries of not working weekends.
At the same time, my personal life is filled with things that don’t involve therapy, which keeps my life in a nice balance. This is hard work that we do and I’ve found through personal experience that being too entrenched in work-related activities only burns me out. I have a regular meditation regimen that I follow, as well as regular exercise routine and getting out in nature (to the ocean or the mountains) at least once a month. I also of course spend good quality time with my friends and family on a regular basis to foster and deepen my connections with them.”
Now it’s your turn!
What is your best tip or strategy for managing (AKA juggling) personal and practice tasks & responsibilities? Leave a comment below and share what you’ve found to work for you.
Take Care,
Sarah
P.S. I’d love to talk to you if you’ve tried several ideas (including some of those described in this post), but still feel pulled in a million directions and like you are dropping balls everywhere. Schedule a complimentary 20-minute Vibrant Therapist Clarity Call, so we can do some brainstorming to come up with a new way for you to approach your responsibilities and find more ease.