Summer Burnout Prevention Task List for Therapists
Burnout prevention doesn’t happen through perfection — it happens through small, intentional actions. You don’t have to check off this entire list. Instead, choose 3 tasks that feel most important or meaningful to you right now, and start there. Small shifts build long-term sustainability.
Task List:
1. Review and Restructure Your Schedule
Audit your current weekly schedule.
Add true breaks between sessions.
Block out vacation or mental health days for the fall now.
2. Raise or Reassess Your Rates
Review your fees against your cost of living and market rates.
Plan and communicate any needed adjustments.
3. Update Your Policies and Boundaries
Revise your cancellation policy, communication guidelines, and client onboarding materials.
Create an email template for boundary-setting conversations.
4. Refresh Your Office or Workspace
Upgrade your chair, lighting, or decor for comfort and energy.
Organize your physical or virtual files.
5. Complete Meaningful Continuing Education
Choose CEUs that truly excite you or help you grow into new interests.
Avoid random "checkbox" CEUs.
6. Conduct a Caseload Check-In
Identify any cases that feel heavy, stuck, or misaligned.
Plan consultations, referrals, or self-reflections as needed.
7. Reconnect with Your Professional Network
Schedule a coffee chat, peer consultation, or join a new therapist group.
Attend at least one live event (virtual or in-person).
8. Refresh Your Self-Care Routine
Try a new hobby, sport, or creative outlet outside of therapy.
Commit to one new habit that supports emotional or physical health.
9. Plan a Low-Stress Vacation (Even a Mini One)
Take at least a few days fully off — unplugged from email and sessions.
Plan coverage if needed, or communicate well in advance with clients.
10. Invest in Personal Therapy or Coaching
Book a few sessions with a therapist, coach, or supervisor to process your professional life.
11. Declutter Your Digital Life
Organize your inbox, client portal, and calendar.
Unsubscribe from newsletters or notifications you don't truly need.
12. Set Intentions for Fall
Write down 3 words that you want your fall season to feel like (e.g., "steady," "creative," "focused").
Choose 1-2 action steps that align with those words.
Remember: Progress over perfection. Choose your 3 tasks, commit to them, and trust that small improvements will add up to a healthier, more energized you by fall.
Decision Fatigue? Let Me Help
Not sure where to start? If picking 3 tasks feels overwhelming, here are three high-impact actions you can take that make a big difference with minimal stress:
✅ Review and Restructure Your Schedule
(Even small changes, like adding 10-minute breaks, can dramatically lower stress.)
✅ Refresh Your Self-Care Routine
(Choose one new habit that supports your mental or physical health — and actually feels good.)
✅ Plan a Low-Stress Vacation or Break
(A true pause, even for a few days, resets your nervous system and prevents deeper burnout.)
Start small, stay steady, and remember: you don’t have to earn rest.
Burnout prevention works best when it’s built into the everyday, not saved for a crisis.
