Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rachel Rotramel. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Rachel, so great to have you with us today. There are so many topics we want to ask you about, but perhaps the one we can start with is burnout. How have you overcome or avoided burnout?
I woke up on the side of the road nearing a field entrance. My body jolts, heart skips, and my eyes are wide awake, as I desperately slam on the brakes- but it is too late. As I fly through the air and my car comes into a crash-landing, I wait for it to be over. My vehicle comes to its final stop and I thank God that I’m alive.
After the brief moment of gratitude passes, I am greeted by anger.
“Why can’t I just handle this like everyone else?”
You see, I had just come off a night shift in a rural intensive care unit. I stayed up all day and worked all night, as I was attempting to make it home- a dreadful three hours away. I’ve done it before and I thought I’d easily do it again.
I told myself that I could make it to the nearest gas station and McDonald’s and sleep in the parking lot for a while to take the edge off. But I didn’t make it. I had fallen asleep at the wheel and crashed on the opposite site of the road.
This should have been my literal wake-up call- “You are doing too much”. It wasn’t until a miscarriage a few months later that I realized how much stress I was putting on myself.
I worked an incredibly stressful job caring for the sickest patients during the height of the pandemic on a travel assignment. I was away from my young children and husband for long periods of time. I was living on survival mode.
Then, I became pregnant again. My rainbow baby. I HAD TO CHANGE. It wasn’t just about me anymore.
This is when I took a complete pause on being a nurse and leaned into my own self-healing and realignment of my values.
My personal development journey led me to embrace self-care to combat burnout. I learned what my true values are and realigned my life accordingly. I crafted a tailor-made work-life balance that would help me stay out of survival-mode and live instead in thrive-mode.
I started out taking brief walks in my backyard just to get some sunlight.
During my pregnancy, as I prepared for the home birth of my child, I cultivated an awareness of my body that has helped me discover when I am out of balance. I learned the art of mindfulness and accepting my thoughts as they come and go. Becoming intentionally present with myself and others has been completely life changing.
Now, my passion is to help others to overcome burnout and mentor others in it’s prevention. If I don’t take care of me, who will?
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
When I was struggling with burnout, I hit pause on my regular nursing career and decided to look for more. I trained to become a transformative nurse coach and the experience has been- well- transformative! As I began my coaching journey, I gained the clarity on who I wanted to serve- struggling youth.
I was no stranger to burnout. In fact, I argue that I am well acquainted with it, even back in my teenage years. I was a high-performing athlete and academic scholar. On top of all the striving for perfection and long hours committed to extracurriculars, life got complicated. After a bad breakup, divorce of my parents, dealing with my father’s opioid addiction, changing schools, and moving away from what I knew, I WAS STRUGGLING.
From 15-17, I endured multiple hospitalizations for mental health. I survived the gamut of therapy, group therapy, heavy medications, and in- and outpatient hospitalizations.
The main lesson I learned coming out of that experience was that I have the power of choice.
Fast forward to now, I guide teenagers in developing resilience and self-esteem to overcome today’s obstacles with confidence.
I offer one-to-one coaching programs for teens that help them effectively manage stress utilizing a holistic perspective. My approach includes the young person and their parents, for more comprehensive support.
As a mother of four young children, I am passionate and invested in the next generation’s success!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
-Personal Accountability -Growth Mindset
-Effective Communication
Seek clarity. Seek support. Seek fulfillment of your purpose.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
When I feel overwhelmed I take a deep breath and take inventory of my thoughts. What is in my control? What is out of my control? What can I do right now? What do I need right now?
If I need to calm myself more, I will step away to do that. Even if it’s in the bathroom. Or the car. Or wherever. Just give myself a minute to slow down that nervous system and breathe.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: facebook.com/rachel.mow
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-rotramel-76872b279/
