Navigating the Storm: A Physician Mom's Guide to Overcoming Overwhelm
October 16, 2024
We're no strangers to overwhelm. Between demanding careers, family responsibilities, and the unexpected curveballs life throws our way, it's easy to find ourselves teetering on the edge of burnout. Recently, I experienced a week that pushed me to my limits, and I want to share the tools I used to navigate through it.
The Perfect Storm
My week started with the aftermath of an intense work schedule - 7 calls in 11 days, including a final shift with 6 deliveries, a shoulder dystocia, and a postpartum hemorrhage. Add to that solo parenting while my husband was away, challenges with a new au pair, and several important meetings and interviews scheduled. It was a recipe for overwhelm.
The Gratitude Gambit
My first line of defense was gratitude. I took time to reflect on the positive aspects of my situation:
The flexibility of my locum work allowing for future travel plans
Having childcare support, even if it came with challenges
My husband's strong family relationships
While this helped initially, I soon realized gratitude alone wasn't enough to combat the mounting stress.
When Gratitude Isn't Enough
As the week progressed, new challenges arose - from malfunctioning smoke alarms to discovering organizational issues left by a previous au pair. It became clear that I needed more than positive thinking to navigate this storm.
The Overwhelm Toolkit
Reach Out for Support I'm fortunate to have a coach who recognized my struggle and offered the option to reschedule our session. Sometimes, we need someone else to give us "permission" to prioritize our well-being.
Reschedule and Reprioritize I made the difficult decision to reschedule an important interview. While it felt unprofessional in the moment, I recognized that showing up as my best self was more important than sticking to a predetermined schedule.
Embrace True Self-Care Instead of pushing through, I took time to meditate and rest. This wasn't indulgent - it was necessary for me to show up fully for my clients and family later in the day.
Take a Mental Health Day Even as a locum physician, I recognize the importance of mental health days. When I was in traditional employment, I didn't hesitate to use sick days when I was approaching burnout. Our patients deserve care from physicians who are present and focused.
Reflect and Adjust After the week, I reflected on what I could change to prevent similar situations in the future. For me, it meant setting stricter limits on consecutive work shifts.
The Takeaway
Overwhelm is not a sign of weakness or failure - it's a signal that something needs to change. As Physician moms, we're often the last to prioritize our own well-being. But remember, you can't pour from an empty cup.
Next time you're feeling overwhelmed:
Start with gratitude, but don't stop there
Reach out to your support system
Don't be afraid to reschedule or reprioritize
Take time for true self-care
Reflect on what changes you can make for the future
Remember, taking care of yourself isn't selfish - it's necessary for you to show up as your best self for your patients, your family, and yourself.
You've got this, doc. And if you need support, don't hesitate to reach out. We're in this together.
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