Burnout in Caregiving: Practical Steps to a Sweeter Life with Farzana Doctor

As an activist, educator, and social worker, Farzana Doctor has long witnessed the burnout of caregivers, community leaders, and healthcare professionals who are the first to help others, but the last to seek help themselves. Recently she’s published 52 Weeks to a Sweeter Life for Caregivers, Activists and Helping Professionals, a workbook of emotional hacks, self-care experiments, and other good ideas for anyone who struggles to pause, set boundaries and centre their own needs.?

This month, Doctor sits down with host Dr. Bill Evans on the Cancer Assist Podcast to talk about the balance between self-care and community care, and how small, consistent practices can combat exhaustion and support personal well-being. She’ll be continuing the conversation as our guest on September 26 at the Hamilton Public Library.?

“If you’re feeling burnt out, it’s not your fault. Burnout is partially an individual issue, but — I think — it’s also very strongly a structural issue,” says Doctor. “Anybody who is impacted by the social service and healthcare systems knows that there's not enough funding in these systems to really provide for enough staffing and better pay for all of these people doing important work,” she says, adding that when we take the blame away from ourselves, we’re able to sit in more self-compassion.?

A practical guide to self-care and community care, 52 Weeks to a Sweeter Life contains fifty-two lessons, one for each week of the year.

“Each chapter is designed to be a three-minute read and then optional experiments for thinking a little bit more deeply,” says Doctor, who is a celebrated and award-winning poet and novelist. For years, she gathered tips and ideas for her clients and social workers burning out around her, eventually compiling them into the book.?

“Self care has become this thing that has become very individualistic, very consumeristic,” says Doctor, identifying the similarities and differences between self care and community care. “Really, what it’s about is mutual aid. It’s about reaching out to people and doing it on a regular basis before things get difficult.”?

Listen Farzana Doctor’s complete conversation on the Cancer Assist Podcast, on our website. You can also find the Cancer Assist Podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify and Youtube.

To register for our FREE Speaker’s Series event with Farzana Doctor, click here.?