The Importance of Work-Life Balance in Private Practice
Starting a private practice can be a difficult and draining process. When it comes to building the private practice we’ve always dreamed of, there are many factors to consider before we even see our first client! It can be overwhelming and intimidating.
If we don’t take the steps, in the beginning, to set up a strong foundation for work-life balance we may find ourselves feeling burnt out, seeing too many clients and not making the income we hoped for.
I’ve had many discussions about this very topic with therapists with 5 or 10 years under their belt but it doesn’t have to be this way! It is possible to have the practice you’ve dreamed of; with the schedule you want, the clients you want and the income you want… without spending years feeling exhausted and burnt out trying to get there.
If your private practice isn’t turning out the way you imagined or it feels like you’ve made too many sacrifices or compromised things that are important to you, there’s a better way to build your private practice in a way that suits your life and goals.
Get Clear About What You Want
One thing is for sure, if we don’t have a strong understanding of where we’re going, we’ll never get there. Take some time to reflect on what your ideal life as a practitioner would look like. From the perspective of not only a therapist but also a business owner, what does your day or week look like?
Working ON your practice, rather than just IN your practice is what helps to make private practices successful. Having the courage to ask for what you want, and build your practice in a way that is conducive to your lifestyle isn’t selfish. In fact, feeling happier and more fulfilled in our work will allow us to show up as the best version of ourselves in every aspect of our lives, and in interactions with our friends, family and for our clients.
Take Action From the Beginning
It’s important to set boundaries as you launch your private practice, or as soon as possible if you determine that your current way of conducting your practice isn’t sustainable. When we take action from a place of scarcity, desperation or fear, we can make rash and clouded decisions that aren’t likely to turn out well.
As you work to launch and build your private practice it can be easy to compromise yourself but keep your eye on what you want (remember your reflection of your ideal day?) and know that it’s okay to say “no” and hold out for what will work for you, your practice and lifestyle.
Be mindful of where you seek advice when it comes to running a successful private practice. What works for your peers, colleagues or mentors may not mirror what success will look like for your practice.
Set Yourself up For Success
While it’s important to say “NO” to situations that may arise that feel compromising, it’s equally important to say “YES” to the things that are in alignment with where you want to go. Start building your practice in a way that suits your goals so that there is a clear path to the practice that you want to have. Say “yes” to the things that serve you, and “no” to the things that don’t.
If you settle in the beginning it can be hard to shift gears down the road. It’s easy to get caught in doing things one way and make changes later. Often times, it’s these compromises that can leave us feeling burnt out and resentful which can result in disappointment and stress (and therefore negatively impact our work). Why not start by building the practice you truly want and set the precedent to create boundaries and a work-life balance that suits your lifestyle?
Thinking about private practice? Just in the launch stages? I’d love to help you launch a wildly successful practice, with clarity, ease and confidence! Check out our Launch Your Practice Program to help get you started.
Already running your private practice, but hitting some inevitable roadblocks? I’d love to help! Check out the BYPP programs designed to guide you through every phase of your private practice journey.
