Who is in your Care Team?

Today I want to talk about a deceptively simple question, yet a highly underestimated strategy in your return to work preparation.

Who is in your care team?

Stay tuned to know how spending some time on this question can be a game changer for you.

When I ask this question, who is in your care team?

You can probably very quickly list a few names.

Perhaps your partner, a friend, a colleague, your healthcare professional.

Now let me follow up with this.

Do they know they're part of your care team?

And do they know what support you specifically need from them?

Specific being the key word here.

You might want to pause this episode if you need just a minute to sit with this question.

During your absence, the support you get from your trusted circle has probably helped you focus on your recovery, come to terms with the experience.

Probably they took some responsibilities off your plate and we're simply just there for you.

But the care you need during your return to work will look a little bit different.

It's about sustaining your recovery.

We're thinking about something longer term.

For example, reminding you and holding you accountable to your priorities or new habits.

Coaching you to be able to ask for your needs at work.

Helping ensure you're getting your rest and recovery time, helping you get back on track on what you've missed at work.

So it's especially important to give some thought to who you need in your care team as your recovery evolves to the next stage.

It's okay for your needs to change and the people you need to change too.

It's also possible that your time off in recovery has made your circle a little bit smaller.

Perhaps it even felt isolating and lonely.

In my experience, healing from burnout is usually experienced alone and not in community with others.

But that can change as you expand your life again to include your professional activities.

And that means being open to help and support from a wider net.

Now I know what might be coming up for you as you're listening to this.

I don't want to burden them.

I'm used to handing things on my own.

I'm worried they'd say no.

I'm afraid they'd think I'm weak.

Now let me ask you, are these thought patterns reflecting the pre burnout version of you or the version of you that has learned that asking for and receiving support is a healthy self care strategy?

I encourage you to take comfort in knowing that the people in your circle are there because they chose to be there for you and they want to show up for you.

But it can be even more helpful if we can have the conversation with them to say hey, here's what I need from you in the next couple of months.

Allow them the chance to say yes and if they can't commit, trust that they will offer other ways that they can be helpful.

Here's what it can look like for you in tangibly three steps.

First, identify your care team.

Think about the people across your personal and professional contexts who helps you feel grounded, safe and supported.

Second, think about what specifically they can do for you that would really feel good and make a difference.

As you make your way back to work.

Here are some Asking your partner for some alone time between the end of your workday and dinner so you can decompress and check in with yourself.

Maybe asking a friend to meet you for lunch or dinner after your first day back at work just in case you need to talk things through.

Maybe even asking your manager for regular check ins during your first three months back.

Or maybe even asking a colleague to check in on you if they notice you've been working late or appear overwhelmed so you can course correct faster.

Finally reach out and let them know this doesn't have to be weird at all.

You can say something like hey, I've really valued your support or our friendship and I wondered if I can lean on you a bit during this transition.

Would you be open to insert your request and I'll feel free to say no if it's too much for you at the moment.

It could be as simple as that.

Most likely they won't say no.

If anything, they'll just give a counter suggestion.

And trust me, they'll probably feel really good knowing how much their support means to you too.

Sounds like a great win win to me.

Your return to work transition can feel vulnerable and you don't have to go through it alone.

Your care team is your safety net.

It exists so you don't have to be in your head all the time trying to figure everything out on your own.

Don't keep your care team to yourself.

Invite them to be part of your return to work experience.

So who's in your care team and do they know it?

If you try this out, let me know how it goes.

Thanks for being here with me today.

Take good care and I'll see you next time.