Advice to my younger self

Working a mix of part-time roles usually means you end up working at least 2 full-time jobs. This is particularly relevant in clinical leadership, where leaders often juggle multiple roles, such as working .2 FTE here and .4 FTE there.

At one point in my career, I was working as both a Nurse Practitioner in a rapid-access chest pain clinic and as a Charge Nurse in coronary care. While exciting and professionally rewarding, the constant workload became overwhelming. I was pioneering in nurse prescribing, and my roles often morphed and blended in ways that were difficult for others to understand. I struggled to explain why I had so much work to do and why I ended up working over my allotted hours.

The truth was, burnout was creeping in, at the time, it wasn't something that was talked about (or potentially heard of). As well as not being able to communicate my struggles to my managers, my ego was playing a big part. I liked being asked to do things, being relied on and getting involved in multiple projects and areas. I was saying “yes” to everything because I could, not because I should. The validation I received from being so busy meant I never stopped to think about how the hours and the work were affecting me.

A wake-up call came when I prescribed a drug, and later, while at home, panicked over whether it had been the right decision. This moment of doubt made me realize I was no longer functioning at my best. The risk wasn’t just to my own health but to the patients I cared for. All was fine with the patient, but my fear of what might have happened was terrifying enough for me to take a good look at myself and what I was doing.

Looking back, I wonder, what I would do, knowing what I know now. What advice I’d give my younger self (and pray that I would listen). Over the years since this time, I’ve learnt a lot, had a heap more experiences, fallen down and gotten back up. So what words of wisdom would I have?

Firstly, I would have sought external support, such as a coach or supervisor, much sooner. Having someone help me articulate my struggles and identify where I needed help could have made all the difference. External support allows you to see the forest for the trees, offering perspective and clarity that’s hard to achieve alone.

Whenever talking about wellbeing in the workplace, I want to talk about the line.

There’s a delicate balance between organizational responsibility and personal accountability when it comes to well-being. We can’t expect the system to fix everything; we need to take proactive steps ourselves. In my case, external guidance would have helped me recognize where my ego was driving my decisions and how to set healthier boundaries.

Yes, the healthcare system should and can be better. And we can take steps for ourselves and we can create changes that matter in our teams.

If you feel like you are in a similar position. Struggling with workload, juggling jobs, life, elements of responsibilities and multiple projects that you are not sure which way is up. If you are on a constant rush and taking delight and pleasure in being on all the time and feeling proud and pleased you are in the ‘busy’ club’ here are three strategies I would recommend:

Seek External Support:

Whether it's a coach, supervisor, or even a trusted colleague, having someone who can provide objective insights can help you unravel your thoughts and make a plan.

Assess Your Wellbeing:

Use tools like the Wheel of Life or the Healthy Mind Platter to evaluate where you’re investing your energy. Be honest with yourself—this assessment is for you. It will help you identify areas of imbalance and highlight where to focus.

Journal Your Thoughts:

If working with a coach isn’t an option, journaling can be a powerful tool. Ask yourself prompting questions like, "If a friend had this issue, what advice would I give them?" Writing things down helps create space between your thoughts, enabling clarity.

Ultimately, it’s about taking that first step toward understanding your context and what you need to thrive. You don’t have to do everything perfectly, but by addressing one area at a time, you can regain a sense of what matters most and avoid burnout.