“Dealing with insurance and the pharmacy is like playing hide-and-seek… except the rules keep changing and nobody wins.”

Some days you’re caring for patients, supporting family, answering questions, and holding it all together like a slightly exhausted superhero—the kind who forgot their cape and is running on caffeine and determination. When everything feels like a lot, these tips can help you make it through the day with your sanity mostly intact.

Pause Before You Respond
Before answering anyone—patients, family, coworkers—take one deep breath. Just one. They can wait two seconds.
This is not avoidance; it’s emotional buffering and prevents you from saying something you’ll immediately replay in your head later. Honestly, some days all you want is a remote to mute and pause everyone—just for a few minutes.

Decide What Actually Matters Right Now
Not everything is urgent, even if it’s announced loudly or marked “high priority.” Focus on what truly needs your attention first. The rest can sit quietly and reflect on their choices.

Set Small Boundaries Without Guilt
“Give me a moment” is a full, respectable sentence. You’re allowed to use it. Caring deeply does not mean being endlessly available. You’re human—not a 24/7 help desk.

Use the Secret Reset
My favorite hiding place, the coat closet. Sit in your car. Eat alone before going inside. No talking. No explaining. Just you, your snack, and the rare luxury of nobody needing anything from you.
Sometimes I hide in my boss’s office by sparking up a conversation—it counts as a reset if it gives your brain a minute to breathe.

Other secret resets? Putting on my Beats headphones and listening to my favorite jam, or quietly watching my daughter sleep at night. Does this count as self-care? Honestly… yes, it totally does.

Refuel Like a Pro
Eat something real. Drink water. Sit down if you can. Caregivers cannot survive on caffeine and good intentions forever—no matter how many times we try.

End the Day With Rewards
A glass of Mountain Dew Orange (or your drink of choice)
A piece of chocolate for me—Hershey with almonds (or a few—who’s counting?)
You survived the day. This is not indulgence; it’s a victory lap.

Dump Your Thoughts on Paper
Before bed, write it all out—the stress, the gratitude, the “I cannot believe that happened” moments. Journaling is like a mental trash bin. Once it’s out of your head, your brain can finally rest.

Stressful days don’t mean you’re failing. They mean you’re carrying a lot for a lot of people. Be gentle with yourself. You’re doing important work—even when you’re eating snacks alone in your car, listening to your favorite song, or watching your daughter sleep.