Work-Life Balance for Physical Therapists

Working as a physical therapist is a rewarding career because you are making a difference in people’s lives. But if you have a busy schedule, it might feel like your life is suffering because of the time and energy you are pouring into your patients.

PT burnout is on the rise, which is why it’s more important than ever to be proactive about caring for yourself. Self-care isn’t enough. You need to be able to implement strategies that help you live with an optimal work-life balance. Here are a few tips to help:

Schedule Time for Family and Friends

Even though it seems like the work never ends, you need to be able to set it aside and prioritize time with people that you love. Mark your calendar to make sure that you have time each week to spend with friends and family. Building it into your schedule is essential to make sure that it remains a priority.

Manage Continuing Education

There are always opportunities to seek continuing education. While staying up-to-date and ensuring relevancy in the industry is important, don’t go overboard with extra continuing education because it will interfere with your work-life balance. Don’t let anyone pressure you into taking an excessive amount of continuing education courses.

Devote Time for Hobbies

In addition to scheduling time for family and friends, make sure that you are also dedicating time to pursue your hobbies as well. Find what you love outside of work and spend time doing these things each week. Whether it’s joining a sports league or chilling at home on a Saturday night with takeout and Netflix, it’s essential that you have time to yourself on a regular basis.

Prioritize Vacations

Getting away to the beach or a beautiful mountain cabin can recharge your mindset and help you feel refreshed to step back into your work routine once again. So, don’t let your PTO stack up. Use your time off effectively and get away to enjoy a change in scenery, fresh air, and new adventures. A little R&R is essential for everyone.

Ask for Help

Look for tasks or responsibilities at home that you can hand off to other people. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you are burdening your family members. Instead, you might find it an excellent investment to bring in a house cleaning service or landscaping service so you can spend your free time on hobbies instead of home maintenance activities.

–Written by Becki Andrus in partnership with Arena Prints screen burning services.

Burger Physical Therapy can help you recover through physical, occupational and speech therapy. Make an appointment today!