“Rest, Rejuvenate, Reset: A Therapist’s Reflection on True Work, Life, and School Balance”

Dear Fellow Therapists,

As we step into a new year, conversations about balance often resurface. Work life balance. School life balance. Self-care. Burnout prevention. We talk about it often, encourage our clients toward it, and teach it in theory. Yet living it can be far more challenging.

This past year, I made a very intentional decision that felt both simple and radical. I left my laptop at home while on a Mediterranean cruise. No emails. No assignments. No “just checking in.” It was not accidental. It was a conscious choice.

For someone who balances clinical work, leadership responsibilities, doctoral studies, and life outside of all those roles, this decision mattered. It was my way of practicing what we so often preach. I chose rest over rushing. Presence over productivity. Renewal over notifications.

At first, the stillness felt unfamiliar. I noticed the urge to stay busy, to check in, to stay connected to work. But slowly, something shifted. My nervous system settled. My mind quieted. I slept more deeply. I laughed more freely. I allowed myself to simply be.

True work, life, and school balance is not about doing everything equally all the time. It is about discernment. It is about knowing when to push forward and when to pause. It is about recognizing that rest is not a reward for exhaustion, but a requirement for sustainability.

That time away gave me exactly what my soul needed. Space to breathe. Time to reflect. Room to reset. I returned clearer, more grounded, and more aligned with why I do this work in the first place.

As therapists, we are often holding space for others while carrying our own responsibilities quietly in the background. Many of us juggle full caseloads, supervision, administrative roles, academic commitments, and personal lives. The weight can add up quickly. Without intentional pauses, even the most meaningful work can begin to feel heavy.

This new year, I am inviting myself, and you, to rethink balance. To move away from perfection and toward presence. To give ourselves permission to unplug without guilt. To trust that stepping away does not mean falling behind, but rather returning renewed.

This season allowed me to practice balance in a very real way. At the same time, I recognize that growth does not always happen in balanced seasons. In my next reflection, I will explore why there are times when being unbalanced is necessary and even transformative.

Rest does not make us less dedicated. It makes us more effective. Rejuvenation does not weaken our commitment. It strengthens our capacity. Resetting is not avoidance. It is wisdom.

So as this new year unfolds, my hope for you is simple. Choose rest when you can. Create boundaries that honor your whole self. Allow balance to be fluid, intentional, and compassionate. And remember that you deserve the same care, grace, and space that you offer so freely to others.

Happy New Year to you all! Here is to a year of resting, rejuvenating, and resetting. Here is to showing up whole. Here is to balance in action.

Wishing you all wellness and growth,

Jinia