As an HSP, it can be hard to turn off the desire to help—but why it helps you thrive at work, not just survive.
For highly sensitive people (HSPs), choosing a career can be a serious undertaking. HSPs often want to do work in which they are of service to others follow their passion and purpose – while not being overstimulated.
Working in a “helping”/caregiving field, such as medicine or psychology, can be very rewarding, especially for HSPs who are drawn to these professions. However, it can be a struggleas it can take a toll on their emotional and physical health.
In my own works as a mental health therapistI had to change and modify my work method – and my workplace more than once. For me, working in an inconsistent environment where I didn’t know what to predict (like conducting a therapy session on the front porch of a home because my teenage client was under house arrest) was too much for my overstimulated nervous system to handle long term.
In order to continue to work in the field I love and serve others, I needed to figure out how I could positively influence my work experience whenever possible. There are many healthy boundaries and tactics that can be used to achieve this, allowing you to stay in a job or field that is important to you. Here are some ways you can do just that—and thrive in the process.
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4 Ways to Succeed in a Caregiver as an HSP, According to a Therapist
1. Protect your time – Setting healthy boundaries around it is key.
Choosing a career that serves others means you will often encounter requests and demands on your time and expertise. Establishing healthy boundaries is key around when he is working and when he is not.
One way to do this is to set up a schedule before you’re in front of a client—or by using a program that blocks your contact. If you wait until a client is with you, it can be difficult to say no to appointment requests, especially because of your ability to sense a client’s need or urgency. (HSPs often struggle with saying “no.” so it’s good to practice.)
Another area to watch out for is when friends or family ask you to offer your services for free. They may not be aware of what they are doing, because if you have a natural tendency to help others, it may seem natural to offer support and help at any time.
And as an HSP, it can be hard to turn off the urge to help—not only because of the depth of empathy that highly sensitive people have, but also because of the depth of processing skills that often lead to problem solving. Instead of expecting yourself to not want to help, set predetermined limits around when you will help and when you need a break and when you don’t.
2. Remember that regular self-care and “me time” are job requirements.
One of the most common mistakes highly sensitive people make in the human service/caregiving field is not following their own advice about self-care. Research shows that HSPs need solitude. However, this can be difficult to achieve when work, home life and other relationships also demand attention.
Like scheduling work time, highly sensitive people need to schedule downtime and non-working time. Because HSPs are deeply influenced by the current mood and energy around them, they are less likely to do this schedule self-care if it does not favor the present moment.
To get around this, you can try scheduling a recurring self-care appointment, such as a massage, that becomes part of your regular routine—even if you’re being pulled in multiple directions.
3. Repeat after me: You are not your job.
Highly sensitive people are deeply moved by their experiences, including a deep passion for their work. While this is an HSP advantage, it also means that when things don’t go well at work, the stress can become all-consuming. That’s why HSPs tend to internalize these problems as a reflection of their own mistakes, they blame themselves when they cannot solve problems that negatively affect others.
While it’s incredible that you’re passionate about your work, that doesn’t mean it defines it WHO it’s you I love the yoga mantra: “I am not my body, I am not my mind, I am not my thoughts.” HSPs can benefit from saying “I’m not my job” as well.
If you feel like the stress at work has become unmanageable – which it is can easily lead to burnout, especially for HSPs — can be helpful if you focus on your current interests not related to the work you do. What makes you feel most alive and in harmony with yourself? Writing? Painting? Riding? Whatever the case may be, make it a part of your life.
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4. It’s okay to say “no” to certain work tasks—and even quit.
As HSPs, we tend to say yes to most things which we feel will improve the lives of those around us. While wanting to help is good-natured, you can’t move a tank without fuel. If you can’t say no you will seriously struggle with burnout and you will be able to continue working in a role of helping others. Plus, saying no sets healthy parameters with your time and energy, both of which are finite resources.
Saying “no” sometimes means realizing a job isn’t working and deciding to quit. Before opening my practice, I worked in almost every consulting environment imaginable – I had to figure out what I was doing not i want to guess what he did Saying “no” now gives you more opportunities to say “yes” in the future.
The more you use coping skills, the more successful you will be in your job
The coping skills of HSPs in caregiving professions have one thing in common: boundaries. Respecting boundaries around time, self-care, and saying “no” are essential skills needed to maintain the drive and passion needed to do good—and great—work.
These skills allow HSPs to nurture their sensitivity when they need it most, help prevent burnout, reduce feelings of overwhelm, and prevents compassion fatigue. Practicing these skills also models effective self-care for those around you, allowing them to set their own boundaries, resulting in more authentic and balanced relationships.
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