“Ma’am, you have burnout!” with Abby Calabrese
Episode Pearls
- Your career path as a physician assistant (PA) can be nonlinear, and it's important to attune to intuition and make changes when red flags show up—this doesn’t mean you are abandoning a role which was previously serving you.
- Self-care is not a one-size-fits-all approach and should be personalized to your needs and preferences. Thinking about what self-care means for you as an individual and starting with little shifts have the biggest impact.
- Women should support and lift each other up, rather than compete, in order to achieve success and fulfillment for all of us. There is no such thing as one-way liberation.
- Cutting out alcohol may have a positive impact on mental and physical well-being—ignoring the red flags perpetuates the physical and mental impacts. Alcohol is often used as a coping mechanism for burnout and stress, but it can exacerbate the problem and prevent true self-repair from occurring.
- Navigating burnout as a PA requires a holistic approach that addresses various aspects of life, including career, relationships, self-care, and personal growth.
- Community and support are crucial in overcoming burnout and creating a more fulfilling life.
- Making small shifts and taking time for self-reflection can have a significant impact on overall well-being and happiness.
Words of Wisdom from the Episode
- “It’s not like you go to the doctor and they say: ‘ma’am, you have burnout.’” – @itsabbycalabrese
- “I need to take a step back. Like there's just no question about it. So I ended up leaving that position I was in and I really had to slow it all down and figure out: why am I getting myself into these positions? Why am I not able to set up certain boundaries? Clearly there were red flags all along the way to that collapse that was like: ‘get out of here, get out of here, get out of here!’ What was causing me to not pay attention to those red flags?” – @itsabbycalabrese
- “I think it's so beautiful that you have been in the depths of the hardest of the hard and you figured out how to pull yourself out of it. And now you're extending that hand back to other women.” – @rachel.la.costa
- “So I make that a part of my month that I'm getting some of that time in there where I'm spending time with women and you know seeing how we can support each other in different things whether it's business or personal or—I don't know, venting about the kid—because there's so much power there.” – @itsabbycalabrese
- “In the end, I don't think there's anything more worth it than taking the time to figure out what's going on with yourself and getting that sorted out. Everybody in your life will benefit. And you're obviously gonna benefit your company and your career.” – @itsabbycalabrese
More Information on Today's ABPAL Podcast Guest
Abby Calabrese is a sought-after speaker and strategist dedicated to empowering women to build sustainable success. Her approach emphasizes balancing wellness, impact, and personal fulfillment with professional achievement.
You can find Abby here:
I host a weekly gathering of PAs like you who believe in creating a beautiful PA life - it's called the Thriving PA Community Hour. It's an opportunity to learn, share, connect, and lift each other up. And you're invited! Get the Zoom link here - I'd love to see you :)
Want a deep dive into the science behind the tools in this week's podcast episode? It drops into your email inbox every Sunday at midnight. Want in? I'd love to have you!
Worried about burnout? You came to the right PA! Get the Burnout Deep Dive here - a resource-rich pdf that will help unlock your burnout. And I created a complete diagnostic assessment for burnout, you can get it here: How Full is My Cup?
Want more evidence-based tools, expert tips, and words of wisdom for creating your beautiful PA life? Check out my Instagram page: @rachel.la.costa
