Caregiver Burnout Prevention

Late afternoon light filtered through the blinds as I finished double‑checking the order of my emergency supplies; precision is my safety net in a world that often feels unsteady. I keep the shelf arranged by color, by weight, by the last time I used each item—habit, but it also keeps my mind from wandering into the emotional noise that usually lingers after a long shift. A sudden, unexpected request from a colleague caught me off‑guard, and I had to decide quickly—protective instincts versus a more collaborative approach—so I responded bluntly, “This is the fastest way,” because my gut said it was safest. Even so, I notice a flicker of doubt about whether I’m doing enough; I tuck that feeling into a tiny notepad beside my planner, a ritual that keeps it from spiraling. After all, my burnout is predictable, but so is my ability to regroup with a clean layout and a dry joke about “missing a vital sign”—because humor is the only thing that lets me keep breathing while the chaos settles. #CaregiverLife 🩺