Clinicians like you know how difficult it is to care for yourself when your entire profession revolves around caring for others. After a physically and emotionally demanding workday, you may come home to another set of responsibilities, chores, and whatever else demands your attention. And you may be so good at caring for others and getting things done that those close to you may not see just how stretched you really are.

Maybe you don’t even realize how stretched you are. And that is a recipe for burnout.

The best way to grow a career of caring for others is to regularly practice self-care. That term may conjure up visions of spa days and yoga classes, but self-care doesn’t have to be costly, require an appointment, or make you sweat. Self-care can be as simple as giving yourself time to read, getting coffee with a friend, or playing tennis every Tuesday night.

While acts of self-care can be simple, committing to them isn’t always easy — especially for those of us who are used to prioritizing others’ needs. In fact, caring for yourself in the same way you care for others may actually take more commitment and discipline.

But the truth is, self-care enables you to preserve and protect your own health and well-being. Self-care practices, then, aren’t luxuries — they’re necessities. After all, how can you continue to do your job well if you aren’t well?

It’s critical to recognize and act on your need for self-care — and to choose a work environment that supports you.

Identify the Need for Self-care

There can be some pretty clear signs that you need to take better care of yourself. It’s important to be aware of them so you can take positive, decisive measures. Keep an eye out for some of the following signs:

General stress about situations that haven’t previously caused stress. Are you noticing more sadness, anger, or frustration?
Uncharacteristic disorganization. Are tasks going unfinished, or are you making mistakes you normally wouldn’t?
Feeling out of control. Are you experiencing intense emotion and disorganization that’s adding up to a feeling of inner chaos?
Burning out. You may be a clinician who worked through the pandemic and handled (among other things) homeschooling your kids. Are you feeling unusually fatigued?
Jumping back in. You may be a clinician who was furloughed (or chose to step out of work during COVID and is now stepping back in). Are you feeling overwhelmed? You’re probably adapting and adjusting to a new schedule, new efficiencies, and new protocols.

You may be a person who repeatedly extends too far and is genuinely surprised when it catches up to you. Or you may be hyper-aware when you're close to your limits. While some people are more naturally in tune with themselves than others, self-awareness is a skill that can be learned with some practice. Try taking time to check in with yourself. Ask yourself how you’re feeling about your day or your week. Be honest and try to recognize when it’s time to take some time for yourself.

When you realistically assess your internal and external state, you’re better equipped to advocate for yourself at work.

Choose a Supportive Work Environment

Knowing how to advocate for your own self-care can be life-changing. Unfortunately, some clinicians find their employers are not as equipped — or willing — to advocate for them, too.

It’s difficult to build positive momentum when you’re struggling, and an indifferent or demanding workplace intensifies the challenge. That can feel like a tough swim upstream. Truly supportive workplaces will make clinician self-care practices a priority because they know it’s a win-win. Clinicians are happier, and patients are better served.

At FOX, we aim to give clinicians the time they need, the support they deserve, and the balance they want in their professional lives. Here’s how we do that.

Flexible Scheduling

Are you required to work nights and weekends when working days would better sustain you? Are you committed to full-time hours when part-time hours are best for you and your family? Answering those questions truthfully is not only key to the longevity of your career, but also fundamental to your general health.

One of the most powerful ways to care for yourself as a clinician is to have control over your work schedule. Professional autonomy also allows you to avoid getting overworked because you are able to protect your personal boundaries. The ability to design your workday also means you can accommodate illness, emergencies, appointments, and vacations without putting your job in jeopardy.

Scheduling flexibility can make all the difference, turning what seemed unmanageable into something quite reasonable.

At FOX, we want our clinicians to provide the best possible care to their patients. We recognize clinicians are better able to provide exceptional care when they create their own work schedules.

We take our clinicians' wants, needs, and goals seriously, so it’s never an all-or-nothing situation. If you decide you are better off working part-time, we will support you. You can adapt your schedule to your changing life and needs.

Professional Support Network

A professional support network of your peers can help clinicians practice self-care in a variety of ways. Connections to others who understand the daily challenges of clinical work can keep you from feeling overwhelmed and alone.

At FOX, we help our clinicians stay connected and fortified by offering:

Check-ins with your Regional Director and Regional Assurance Liaison. When a clinician starts working for FOX, we schedule regular times for conversation and coaching. We routinely help clinicians work through any issues impacting their work-life.
A sponsorship program. We assign every new clinician a veteran member of our team to serve as a “sponsor.” The sponsor is a real friend and confidante who can be a point of wisdom and assurance through the day-to-day challenges a new clinician might face.
Relationships with fellow clinicians. Because FOX is a large organization, with thousands of affiliates across multiple states, our clinicians have the opportunity to build relationships with plenty of other clinicians who can empathize with common struggles and share useful information and self-care tips.

Each part of the FOX support network can help individual clinicians make the very best choices for themselves — and that is the essence of self-care.

Work/Life Balance

Having a passion for patient care is a valuable quality in a clinician. But we want to make sure you never forget to care for yourself.

FOX aims to improve the lives of our patients and our clinicians. We want you to keep enjoying your life outside of work so you can be an energetic, long-term clinician and a healthy, content human being. If you’ve lost touch with the things that give you rest and pleasure, we can help you protect time for those things.

Whether it’s gardening or golf, journaling or biking, you need regular time for self-care practices as a clinician. And you deserve to be part of an organization that helps you prioritize yourself.

Want a better work/life balance as a clinician? A pply to work with FOX today!