By: Susan Boydell | sboydell@barlowmccarthy.com

“The greatest gift that you can give yourself is a little bit of your own attention.” – Anthony J. D’Angelo

It’s that gift-giving time of the year! It’s our way of saying thank you and showing our love and appreciation to those we care about. It is a season for giving back.

So many of you in physician relations are amazing at “giving back” to others, especially your physicians and their practices. Perhaps it’s time to think about what you are giving yourself. Think about it as your investment in your future. I think it’s an excellent tradition to start this year.

Where to start?

Gifting yourself can happen in many ways. Big or small. A daily commitment or a long-term aspiration.

As a physician relations expert, you might think about your gift to yourself  and relate it to this past year. Perhaps it was a tough year. Acknowledging where your unique talents and skills made a difference is a gift. Make a list of those attributes and commit to continuing to leverage them in the future.

Another direction to focus on is what you want professionally in 2023. Perhaps you have a strong desire to advance your career but are not quite sure how to go about it. Is this the year you gift yourself some next level education? Maybe you sign up for a leadership course either within your organization or outside or find a mentor to learn from and build your self-esteem in an area you feel less confident.

Do you tend to have a negative outlook about something specific regarding your role? Perhaps it is something you’ve been fighting for a while. Can you gift yourself the ability to see something positive instead of negative? Can you offer possible solutions vs. complaining? Trust me, a more positive outlook will definitely help you feel better.

Try it. Why? Because you deserve it. And remember, for every gift you give yourself, don’t forget to say thank you!