Anyone in a leadership role knows this:
It’s almost second nature to jump to solutions before we’ve truly understood the problem.
In nearly every process improvement meeting I’ve ever been in; we start brainstorming fixes before we’ve even named all the root causes. It takes a conscious effort to pause, zoom out, and bring the team back to the basics.
But when you do take the time to understand the real problem — the root causes — the possible solutions often become clear.
The same is true for you as a women physician leader.
If you feel like you’re on a collision course with burnout:
- Overworked
- Overcommitted
- Overwhelmed
This is your moment to step back. With the right awareness, the right support, and the right tools, you can shift the trajectory.
From burned out… to bold.
From exhausted… to energized.
From running on empty… to leading with clarity, creativity, and purpose.
It’s not easy. But it is absolutely within your control.
Three Action Steps You Can Take Now
- Practice self-love, even when it feels foreign.
For many of us, self-love sounds like a luxury or an Instagram cliché. But at its core, it means treating yourself with the same compassion you give to others.
Speak to yourself with gentleness. Let go of perfectionism. Being proud of who you are beyond your title or credentials. Self-love is what sustains you when external validation runs dry.
Saying this is definitely easier than it is in practice. So please know, it takes practice.
You first need to notice when you are not giving yourself compassion or speaking to yourself with kindness. Then, reflect on how it made you feel and recognize that you are not alone. Have others ever made a similar mistake?
Try giving yourself the same compassion you would give a friend, or your child, in the same situation.
2. Set boundaries, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Boundaries are not walls, they are guideposts for how others can engage with you respectfully.
- You are allowed to say no.
- You are allowed to not answer that text at 10 p.m.
- You are allowed to block time for lunch, for a walk, for deep breaths between patients.
When you set boundaries, you don’t just protect your time, you model what healthy, sustainable leadership looks like.
They key? Communicate with clarity and kindness.
It can be as simple as saying, “I believe in the goals of this project. I currently have X amount of time to dedicate. If that’s not enough, let’s consider moving it to next quarter.”
Or, in a high-stress moment with a belligerent patient: “Please lower your voice and speak respectfully. If you can not do that, I’ll step away, and we can continue this conversation later.”
Honestly, I get the most boundary-setting practice with my own children! The stakes feel lower, but it matters just as much. I want them to see how to do this well. If you’re a parent, you know – the opportunities to practice are endless.
3. Prioritize self-care like it’s a professional obligation.
I’m not talking about bubble baths and manicures. Real, intentional self-care.
- Sleep.
- Movement.
- Time with people who bring you joy.
- Therapy or coaching.
- Space for silence and reflection.
You already know the physiology behind stress and cortisol and burnout — you’ve read the studies. Now it’s time to actually apply that knowledge to your own life.
One powerful place to begin is with a daily habit.
Think of it as choosing just one piece of the self-care puzzle to focus on this month — something that brings you a little closer to feeling healthier, stronger, and less depleted.
Set a simple weekly goal and keep a log in your planner or notes app. Track what worked, and just as importantly, what got in your way. The goal isn’t perfection — it’s awareness and gentle adjustment.
Want to take a walk at lunch? Pack your sneakers and a T-shirt the night before and bring them with you to clinic. Want to eat healthier? Start by adding an apple to your lunch or a vegetable to your dinner — small acts that signal you matter too.
Tiny, consistent choices can build real momentum.
One habit at a time, you’re not just checking a box — you’re reshaping your day to support the life you want to lead.
You Are Meant To Lead Your Life Like You Lead Your Team
Extricating the resentment from leadership is not about stepping away from leadership — it’s about redefining what leadership means.
It’s about becoming the kind of leader who honors her own humanity — who leads with strength, not through exhaustion. Who leads by example.
You don’t have to earn rest. You don’t have to justify your boundaries. You don’t need to be everything to everyone. You are allowed to build a life that supports you — not just your patients, not just your team, not just the system.
Because when you do, you don’t become less capable, you become more powerful.
- More present.
- More fulfilled.
- More of the leader you were always meant to be.
Let this be your moment to take that first step — from sacrifice to inner strength. From burnout to balance. From surviving to leading with intention.
You deserve that. And it starts with you.
If you’d like to learn more about working with me, you can find me at womenmdleaders.com/work-with-stephanie
See you next week. Until then, protect your peace.