When A Break Can Heal.
There are few things that all Physios should be informed of at university. You should be told that some days are incredibly rewarding and the feeling of helping another person can be priceless. You should also be told that there will be other days where patients will annoy you for trivial things like running late to your appointment or seeing a Chiro. You should also be told that you’ll likely have a career crisis around the 5 year mark and wonder where to go next.
As a Physio with over 20 years of experience, I could try to explain why this happens to many of us. I won’t though. We all have our own complex reasons that are too nuanced to explore in this short piece. However, I can say that it’s a common and happens to most, if not all of us at some point. Such career crises are a semi-regular phenomenon in Physiotherapy. Much like forgetting the name of all the special tests of the shoulder. However, there are many ways to combat such career crises. In the past I’ve found a few helpful ones like changing jobs (note that you’ll soon find the same issues that triggered your move are everywhere and it’s maybe you rather than the job after all), starting post-grad studies (sure it adds stress and debt, but in the end very much worth the adventure) and, thirdly my favourite strategy for fending off a career crisis- taking a career break.
Now I’m not talking about a 2 week stint on a Greek island yoga retreat or an Easter break exploring Tuscan villages driving the cheapest rental car you could find (yep, I’ve done both). Sure, after a short holiday you’ll return to work with an envious tan and an impressive vocabulary of Sanskrit, but you won’t have experienced the outlook changing effects of a career break.
Taking a career break can be daunting. But like any great adventure, there needs to be a measure of jeopardy for a great result to occur. A career break means walking away from the caseload you’ve built. A career break means giving up the chance to climb the clinical ladder (whatever that is). A career break means telling your patients that despite you honestly caring about their wellbeing and progression, that you will be handing them over to whoever is free and likely never see them again. These are just a few of the barriers to taking such a hiatus from work.
But if you can overcome these barriers, put in your notice and book your flights there are many wonderful things that await you on your career break.
Here are my top 3 things I learnt on my many career breaks.
A career break can provide you with clarity.
While in the coal-face of clinical work with compassion fatigue lurking around every corner and the smell of burnout in the air, seeing things clearly is a challenge. Being able to reflect on what is important to you beyond work is an important part of adulting. We strive for the illusion of a work-life balance, but when riding this metaphorical see-saw the weight of a long working week will forever keep the life end out of reach. By stepping away from all this noise, a career break enables you to think about how you wish to structure your life. I found that by stepping away I thought back on the countless experiences that had formed my career to date. I found out that despite the many challenges to working as a clinician, I thoroughly enjoyed what I did. I enjoyed having the opportunity to help patients. This isn’t everyone’s experience. I have known many Physios, who on stepping away came to the conclusion that Physio wasn’t for them. This is a great outcome for the individual and helps them move in a different direction that can provide a sense of being content. Sure this can be done despite a career break, though I suspect it would take longer.
A career break can redefine you.
Most of the people you meet on a career break will only know you as you. While on a career break you will no longer be a Physio. This may seem trivial, but I found this one of the most rewarding aspects of a career break. Consider that during your working week, the vast majority of people you interact with see you as a Physio. Maybe it’s the active wear or the ease that you use the word abduction or coccyx, either way, most people see you as a Physio. On a career break that disappears. You become just another person to talk to, to share ideas with and learn from. Gone are the questions about the benefits of stretching and magnesium cream. Instead you’ll find yourself discussing the phenomenon of wine tasting better with company, how Mondays have lost their sense of Mondayness and promising to visit newly made friends next time you are in the vicinity of the Rhine valley. A career break can redefine you.
A career break can restore you.
Being patient facing is taxing. At work you are either with a patient, writing notes, washing your hands or eating your lunch in front of your notes wondering if you washed your hands. There is very little downtime to take a breather. It’s part of the reason that when informed of a late cancellation during the day you need to repress the smile of relief. A career break allows you to de-load, to rest, to recover. A career break takes you away from the cumulative stresses of work to recover. Even professional athletes get an off-season. Interesting that despite our immersion in the culture of sports, we don’t view our working year as a season that requires the rejuvenation provided by an off-season. I’ve found putting my feet up, resting my mind has enabled me to enjoy this game for over 20 seasons. A career break can restore you.
Now, I should make it clear that a career break isn’t for everyone. Financial and family responsibilities, as well as having clear career goals can outrank the benefits of a career break for many. I should qualify my career break advocacy by adding that a career break can also involve working in a different industry. Still earning an income while exploring the benefits of a career break can be equally rewarding as sitting in the Mediterranean afternoon sunshine. More on this in a later blog.
For those with the freedom and luxury to consider a career break, perhaps it is a time to travel.
To join us on our next event as we discuss Managing A Career Break.
Details can be found here