Leaving work at work is now harder than ever. With advances in technology, we are accessible 24/7, constantly being pulled in a million directions. And if I’m honest here, this isn’t just “a busy season”—it’s become the norm. There’s even a name for it: the infinite workday. According to Microsoft, the average professional receives 117 emails and 153 work messages a day. We’re interrupted every 2 minutes. No wonder one in three people feel like the pace of work today is impossible to keep up with (Microsoft, 2025).
For audiologists and speech-language pathologists, the work can feel deeply personal. You help people communicate, connect, and navigate daily life, which can make it hard to fully step away when the day ends. The weight of that responsibility can be difficult to turn off once you leave the office or log out. Being “on” all the time comes at a cost. If you’ve set the precedent that you’re always available, people will start to expect it. Over time, the pressure can turn into stress, anxiety, health issues, or feeling like your spark has faded (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2022). If you don’t learn how to protect your time and energy, you risk burning out and fast––or perhaps that has already happened.
Now, more than ever, you need tools to help you leave work at work. It doesn’t have to be perfect, and it might feel a little messy at first. But with small shifts and a bit of intentionality, it is possible. Especially when you:
So, how can you make this happen? How can we as professionals and clinicians actually follow through with leaving work at work?
Let’s take a second to assess how you’re doing now. Answer these questions honestly:
Learning to set boundaries is crucial. If you’re late to the setting-boundaries game, don’t stress: There’s still plenty of time to figure it out. If you want to have more harmony between work and life, boundaries are not optional, they’re essential. Without them, you’ll stay stuck in reactive mode, feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or resentful. I love this quote from Brene Brown: “Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves even when we risk disappointing others.”
Here are some questions to think about:
Saying “no” often doesn’t come naturally—especially for those in patient care. The reason many providers got into this profession in the first place was because they’re caring, they’re compassionate, and they want to help people. Saying “no” can go against your nature of wanting to help others. You might feel guilty or worry about letting someone down.
A client recently told me, “I don’t want to come off as lazy or like I’m not giving my best.” There is nothing lazy about saying “no.” In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Setting boundaries takes effort, intentionality, and self-reflection...not easy stuff to navigate. It involves thinking differently so you can show up fully for yourself, your patients, and your loved ones.
If you say “yes” to something, you must consider what you’re saying “no” to in your own life—to make that “yes” happen. And are you okay with that? You don’t need to prove your worth by doing it all. Overworking or running yourself into the ground is not a badge of honor.
Clients will often tell me, “I’ve set boundaries, but no one is respecting them.” When we dive deeper, it becomes clear that yes, they have set their boundaries, but they never communicated them effectively, or they’re enforcing their boundaries inconsistently—which sends mixed signals to the other person.
When you set boundaries, align them with what matters most to you. Communicating your boundaries doesn’t have to be complicated or super wordy. It can be as simple as using our 3C framework for setting boundaries: Clear, Calm, Consistent.
If you don’t take time to recharge, no one else is going to do it for you. This is your permission to take time this week or weekend to refuel your tank. In a profession built on care and compassion, you deserve that same care, too.
Take real time off—not the kind where you’re half-scrolling through social media. Spoiler: Research shows that this kind of rest (i.e., social media scrolling) doesn’t restore us (The Economic Times, 2025). Turn your phone off; unplug. Start small with 30 minutes and work your way up. Compassion and generosity are strengths, but without boundaries (and time to refuel), they’ll burn you out.
This week, do something for you. Listen to a fun song. Go for a walk. Play with your kids—fully present. Heck, stare at a wall for 15 minutes if that refuels you. Make time for YOU.
You deserve time for you.
Your patients deserve a recharged you.
Your family does, too.
Because when you show up giving your best to clients and to colleagues, everyone benefits. It’s a ripple effect. Work will take all the time you give it—don’t give it infinity. You deserve you in your life.
References
The Economic Times. (2025, February 9). Your brain break: Screen time is breaking your brain; neurologist reveals the secret to true mental recovery. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/your-brain-break-screen-time-is-breaking-your-brain-neurologist-reveals-the-secret-to-true-mental-recovery/articleshow/123239980.cms
Microsoft. (2025, June 17). Breaking down the infinite workday. Microsoft WorkLab. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/worklab/work-trend-index/breaking-down-infinite-workday
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2022). Addressing health worker burnout: The U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory on building a thriving health workforce. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/health-worker-wellbeing-advisory.pdf
Author Bio
Kari Dermer, AuD, CPC, is a certified career and leadership coach and co-owner of dB Coaching Group—where she supports audiologists and speech-language pathologists in building meaningful careers without sacrificing their well-being. She brings more than 15 years of experience in leadership, mentorship, and coaching to the communication sciences and disorders community.