Healthy Boundaries Around Maintaining Employment

I can think of several times in my career where I "toughed it out" and stayed in jobs longer than I should have because of how bad they were for me. Part of being someone in a service-oriented field (mental healthcare) is remembering that one can't help others with their health if one isn't taking care of oneself as well. Sometimes it can be really hard to let go of a job because of the love one has for a patient, a resident, a client, and not wanting to "leave them" in order to move on to better things. One might feel like they need to stay in their role because they think others will see them as weak for stepping down. But there's nothing stronger than letting go of something that you feel obligated to in order to maintain the boundaries surrounding one's own health and life and your peace.

Setting limits and sticking to them are skills that have to be learned and practiced just because of how hard it can be. But in the end, when boundaries are respected it allows for greater freedom. I had to leave my most recent job because of the workplace culture there. I was ruminating about anything my boss said or anything that went wrong during a shift all the time in my daily life, so I was truly not getting any breaks at all from work. A job isn't meant to take up so much space, especially when it comes to be more negative than positive. Having to say good bye to the wonderful children I served there was exceedingly difficult, but in the end I respected my own boundaries by choosing to find a better role more fitted to me elsewhere.

If you leave a job, there might be a time required by your brain for grieving the good parts. But if you "follow the peace" and are able to truly move on, the old job will stay behind as you move forward to your ultimate goals.

If your job is contributing to an unhealthy lifestyle, if it makes you feel violated, if you're burnt out and no one is supporting you, if you're having a hard time recognizing your achievements and find yourself only looking at your mistakes, ask yourself why you're keeping yourself in the job you've got. This doesn't mean you have to quit or do anything you're uncomfortable with. Maybe right now you're staying in a job because you need it. (for the pay, benefits, resume, etc.) Maybe you've been loyal for a long time and you know why. By all means please make your own choices and I hope you can maintain your boundaries. Remember you yourself should always be your #1 priority.

I just thought I'd share since I've just experienced this.