What does it mean to live a Balanced Life as an SLP?

For me, it means not waking up every day dreading going to my job. It means not having panic attacks at the thought of another day, even on the weekends and days off. It means reclaiming Sundays, and even Mondays, for enjoyment, not mental preparation for the week ahead. It means not wondering how I can possibly do this for another year, season or even week. It means finding passion in my job, so I can love and enjoy my time away from work. It means finally feeling like I make a difference and am fulfilled with my work life, my family life and my time to me.

For me, balance means everything.

Balanced Living isn’t about doing what every other therapist you know or see is doing, keeping up with the SLP Jones’, scheduling and preparing for each new session (unless you love that kind of thing) or working yourself to the bone just to maintain your schedule and please everyone you work with. It’s about figuring out what you really need to love being an SLP and learning how to do that while still living your life. This career can be an exhausting, relentless one, but it can also be highly rewarding and nourishing when we strike that balance.

This is what Balanced Living as an SLP is all about.

I’m here to help you find it.

Here’s a little story for you:

You wake up each day exhausted and stressed about how much there is to do. You hit snooze as many times as possible, only to end up running late. You rush to get yourself (and everyone else) ready for school/work, so you skip breakfast but grab a cup of coffee to get through the morning. You end up feeling great for a few minutes, then crash and feel awful, plus someone calls you in for a “situation” with your caseload as soon as you walk in the door. You sit at your desk all day feeling less than inspired and more than drained, or perhaps you run around constantly without stopping for a break, feeling tired, worn out and ragged. You count down to mid morning for your second or third coffee break, if you get the chance for it to happen. You rush around with a few more clients and then it’s finally time for lunch. It’s a quick break, if you get it at all today due to the added demands of your work day. Lunch is anything but exciting and not very fresh or healthy. You don’t feel great after eating it, but at least you aren’t hungry. You grab a soda or coffee to get through the next few session. You start to feel tired and sluggish mid-afternoon, so you grab a snack from the vending machine and another coffee. You get through those sessions, stay late to finish paperwork and rush to run errands, pick up the kids and find something to eat for dinner. You throw together a quick meal, spend time caring for your loved ones and realize it’s almost time for bed. You rush to get ready for the next day and feel like you’ll never “get ahead”. You start to feel stressed and anxious about all the things you still need to do and the lack of time for things you want to be doing, and you realize you had no time for just you today. Your day was spent giving and nourishing everyone else around you. Some nights, you just break down crying or hide in the bathroom for a few moments of peace. You then rush to bed, stressing about how you won’t get enough sleep, and do it all over again tomorrow.

 Sound familiar?

Whether you work in a school, hospital, clinic or rehab center, I bet you can relate.

A few years ago, I could to:

I spent years on the “right track”: going to college and graduate school, getting a well-paying job, then a better paying job. I got married, bought a big, new house, and then BOOM, I realized I wasn’t happy. I was constantly stressed and exhausted. I felt frazzled and grumpy. I pretended to be happy around everyone, because I felt immense guilt at not appreciating all that I had. I hated my job and felt unfulfilled. There was passion and a spark missing from my life and I felt completely out of balance in all areas.

I was burnt out and constantly stressed. I took time away to find myself, discover my passions for life again. I trained in yoga, practiced regularly, dabbled in meditation and wrote a blog. It took me 4 years, but I recovered from my burn out and woke up one day ready to take on the SLP world again.

Let me share another story:

You wake up a little tired, because who doesn’t want a few more minutes of sleep, but you are excited for the day and feeling refreshed. You spend a few minutes stretching and grab a glass of water. You hop on your yoga mat or meditation cushion before anyone else wakes up, or perhaps you grab a few more moments of sleep. You start getting ready for work and feel prepared for the morning and the day ahead. Yeah, more time would be better, but you have this down and are ready to go. You grab your breakfast and a cup of coffee. Today you’ll take them to go, but most days you have a moment to sit and enjoy them. You breakfast is filling, so the coffee gives you a little energy boost without a crash. You arrive at work with a smile, ready to greet your co-workers and clients. You have water with you throughout your sessions to help you stay hydrated, alert and protect your voice. Mid-morning you take a break and check your emails. It looks like you’ll have a few things to wrap up at the end of the day, but you know you have time scheduled in just for that. You finish your morning sessions and actually have a good time during them. You feel like you are really making a difference for your students/patients/clients. You grab your lunch, during your scheduled lunch break. You sit and relax while you eat it. It tastes good. You grab a coffee or tea after, while you catch up on some reading or texts from friends. Your afternoon sessions start and you feel good about them. You finish up with your last client and have your scheduled block to do your paperwork, emails and all the extra things that come with being an SLP. You enjoy a snack while you do this. Then you head out the door, after saying goodbye to your co-workers. On the way home, you stop to run a few errands before picking up the kids. Some days you take a yoga class. Then you get home, spend some time together and perhaps go for a walk outside. You make a quick dinner (all prepped from the weekend) and ask your family to help you where they can. You all spend a few more moments together before getting ready for the next day. Everyone heads off to bed and you catch up on a show, read a bit, stretch out or spend some time with your sweetie. You head to bed tired, a little late perhaps, but ready for sleep. And ready for the day ahead of you. 

Sounds a little better, right?

In my signature program Balanced Living for SLPs, the SLP Toolbox and weekly newsletter, I’ll gives you tips and tools to start to make this shift happen. It’s possible to enjoy life and be a kick-butt SLP, without constant stress, anxiety and guilt. You’ll finally get to be the SLP you’ve always wanted to be and have more balance in your life.

I waited way too long to make a change in my life and lost out on so many years of enjoyment and fulfillment. I don’t want you to do the same. It is absolutely possible to find passion in your career again, live your life outside of work and nourish yourself each day.

I can’t wait to help you get started!

Much Love,

Want to know even more about me? Here are a few things you might not know:

I have been an SLP since 2008, minus my 4 year break and the year I decided I would “never” renew my CCC’s and put my license on inactive status. During those 4 years, I was a yoga teacher, health coach, group fitness instructor, and personal trainer. I also had a food blog, TheHouseofHealthy.com and wrote 2 books.

I used to work in rehab and therapy, but my heart wasn’t in it and I felt ineffective. I switched to a hospital setting and felt the same way, but was paid really well. I got laid off due to budget cuts.

My husband and I have known each other for over a decade. We have been married for 9 years, dated for 5 before that (mostly long distance), lived in 2 states (SC and now NC) and have a daughter. We also have two big, lovable dogs.

I don’t consider myself from anywhere. I moved around a ton, and have never lived anywhere more than 11 years. I recently moved to NC from SC, which was the longest I had lived anywhere. It holds a very special place in my heart.

When I was little, I wanted to be a teacher and an author. I dreamed of teaching first grade and writing children’s books. Instead, became an SLP, then taught yoga and wrote non-fiction, blogs and self-help. My first book is Detox 101, my second is The Smoothie Life. I have written for Yoga Magazine several times. I guess sometimes when you are little, you just kind of know things 😉

I am a quiet person. I need a ton of space and alone time or I start to get cranky. I have to be very mindful when visiting people, or when having people visit me, that I get enough time to decompress and be by myself or my core family.

I am 33. I think. I usually forget how old I am and have to do the math. I was secretly pretty excited to be in my 30’s, like a “real adult”.

I had a cat for 20 years. She died in my lap, while Barry and I were petting her, telling her it was ok to go. Her passing away was one of the hardest things I have ever gone through and I still miss her each and every day.

I spend most days (when I’m not working behind the computer) with my daughter. We go outside, hike and explore. I also love a great date night with wine, fancy shoes and twinkly lights. It’s all about balance, right?

I am hard on myself and very critical of my work. My parents say I’ve always been that way. But I’m working on it.

I love checking emails and social media. Seeing a little red circle or notification always makes me excited, so send me messages, comments, emails, and likes. I’d love to hear from you and see how it’s going. Make sure to sign up below to stay in touch with everything that’s going on.