Do as I Say, Not as I Do: Navigating Burnout for Nutrition Providers
Meg Bowman MS CNS LDN CHES
As CNSs, we are passionate about helping others lead healthy lives. We advocate for self-care, balance, and stress management for our clients, but how often do we apply these principles to ourselves? In the midst of our busy schedules and demanding workloads, it's easy to neglect our own well-being and fall victim to burnout. Recently, my therapist asked me how I would respond to a client who was feeling overwhelmed by ALL THE THINGS just like I was. I said well, perhaps they need to find space for reclaiming some joy and maybe consider curating all the things so they do less? She looked at me, expectantly. And I realized that I had WALKED INTO THAT ONE! Jeez.
Oh, the irony! Here I was, offering advice and guidance to clients while neglecting to take my own medicine, and what a bitter herbal tincture it was! It was time to face the music and navigate my way out of the burnout trap. So, let's embark on this journey together, as we explore practical strategies to avoid burnout while acknowledging the wisdom we dispense to others.
Reclaiming Joy: We often encourage our clients to find joy in their lives, to engage in activities that bring them happiness and fulfillment. Yet, we often forget to carve out time for joy ourselves. So, let's take a step back and reevaluate our priorities. What brings us joy? Is it spending time with loved ones, pursuing hobbies, or simply indulging in activities that bring us pleasure? Whatever it may be, let's make room for joy in our own lives. Remember, joy is not a luxury but a necessity for maintaining a healthy mindset. And while you may consider reading nutrition books fun, let’s still count that as work, okay?
“Remember, joy is not a luxury but a necessity”
Embrace Your Unique Biology. I discovered a few years ago that shockingly I had turned into a “morning person”. These days, my kiddo leaves for school at 7:12, and I sit down for my first client session at 7:30 a.m. Let me tell you, the teenage and early 20’s me would be SHOCKED! But I’ve learned that in adulthood, my brain shuts off at around 3 p.m., and anything I have to do after that is a gigantic struggle bus. So I’ve tried hard to schedule most client and supervision meetings during the times I’m most awake and alert, and given myself the grace of lessening evening activities. Even then, it isn’t just about the time of day, I also have to manage the total hours/week.
Recently, Alyson, Liz and I were in a meeting on an early Friday afternoon. I had worked more than usual that week as it was the launch week for Nested Health Coach Certification. There came a point in the meeting where quite literally Alyson and Liz starting sounding like the Swedish Chefs from the Muppets! I had to ask them to repeat what they were saying 3-4 times before I could process. I was DONE! So I eventually fessed up and admitted I was no longer tracking, and we ended the meeting. I probably should have called an audible much sooner - I would have been more effective after some rest.
Doing All the Things: As nutrition providers, we are often pulled in multiple directions. We juggle numerous responsibilities and wear multiple hats. On any given day you’re seeing clients, researching their care, talking to their care team, charting (ugh), participating in CE events, and that’s only what we do at work. We advise our clients to simplify their lives, to focus on what truly matters, yet we sometimes forget to do the same for ourselves. It's time to take a step back and evaluate our commitments. Are there tasks or obligations that can be delegated or eliminated? Can we streamline our processes and focus on what truly aligns with our values and goals? By curating our workload, we can create space for self-care and prevent burnout. I started going to acupuncture recently after a ten year hiatus. It’s lovely just to be there on the table, all calm and warm. Find your version!
Use Your Tools: A number of years ago, I participated in a creative workshop that had us take magazines, construction paper, stickers, and other craft items to design a booklet that showed tools that we could use when under stress. The goal here was to leave this booklet in your desk drawer, to pull out when under stress. Often, we lose access to our tools when we’re underwater - we just don’t have the mental bandwidth to even remember them! That’s where an activity like this comes into play. Consider gathering some nutrition besties in person or over Zoom and creating your own stress toolkit booklets.
Seeking Support: We often encourage our clients to seek support when they're feeling overwhelmed, but do we extend the same courtesy to ourselves? Seeking support is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength and self-awareness. Often, CNS candidates are shocked to hear that I still ask colleagues for nutrition advice - ALL THE TIME! I also participate regularly in supervision myself. Remember, we are all in this together, and seeking support can provide invaluable insights and encouragement during challenging times.
“Let's reclaim joy, curate responsibilities, utilize tools, seek support, and embrace imperfection.”
Your Clients Aren’t Perfect, Why Do You Expect Yourself To Be? As nutrition providers, we strive for perfection in our work, but the truth is, perfection doesn’t happen for anyone. We advise our clients to embrace imperfection, to let go of unrealistic expectations, yet we often forget to extend that same grace to ourselves. What is up with that, people? It's time to release the pressure to be perfect and embrace our own imperfections. I ate boxed cereal for breakfast and am not sorry! Also, I ordered pre-cooked chicken breast to make tacos this week. Just sayin. By embracing imperfection, we can give grace not only to ourselves but our clients.
As CNSs, we must practice what we preach. It's time to prioritize self-care and well-being. Let's reclaim joy, curate responsibilities, utilize tools, seek support, and embrace imperfection. Together, we can break the cycle of burnout and create a community of resilient nutrition providers. Let's rewrite the narrative, walk the walk, and navigate burnout with grace. It's not just about doing as we say, but doing as we do. Let's lead by example, showing ourselves the same care and compassion we extend to our clients.
Nobody show this blog to my therapist, okay? I don’t wanna hear about it!
XOXO, Meg