Posts by Diane Sieg
It’s About Time: 3 Practices for the Holidays
Do you ever find yourself saying, I don’t have time for this! Especially when life provides you with little but costly inconveniences like your car not starting, computer crashing, or chai tea spilled in your lap? Whether you look forward to the holidays or suffer through them, they require more from us—attention, energy, and time.…
Keep Reading...5 Misconceptions About Burnout
Carol, a seasoned ICU nurse started to cry uncontrollably on her way to the grocery store. After spending the last four days working her 12-hour shifts, she felt completely overwhelmed with the idea of driving to, navigating in, and unpacking from the grocery. Feeling frustrated and even embarrassed, she made the decision to go home…
Keep Reading...My Compassionate Reminder in the ER
I never imagined I would end up in the ER on my beach vacation. I am healthy, active, without risk factors, and if you work in healthcare, you know it takes a lot for any of us to admit we need help. But after experiencing mild chest pain all afternoon that increased to a pain…
Keep Reading...Presence with a Rattlesnake
Every Friday morning, I practice my recovery with a solo hike up Gregory Canyon in Boulder, Colorado. A couple of weeks ago, I was ¾ of the way down, completely lost in my thoughts, when a runner passed me going up yelled, There’s a rattlesnake on the trail ¼ of a mile down! That announcement…
Keep Reading...Retreat to Recover
Last month my team and I spent 3 days in the mountains for a retreat, the first time we were together in person in two years! Even though I have been leading retreats for 25 years, every single one reminds me of the importance of getting away to recover. We all agreed this one was…
Keep Reading...5 Steps to Recommit
I had a realization last month when I was planning to send my book to my editor. I opened up the manuscript to review one more time before sending and found it was not in the condition I remembered, in fact, I was sure there must be a more recent version! Apparently, I had been…
Keep Reading...Practice CPR for YOUR New Normal
I was thrilled to speak in person at Dignity Hospital last month for Hospital Week! While I have been grateful to present on Zoom for the last 16 months, it pales in comparison to the energy, spontaneity, and sharing an in-person experience provides. It was a great trip on many levels, and quite different from…
Keep Reading...Thank You for Your MOST Important Work
Waiting in line for my vaccination last month, I felt such a sense of hope and gratitude for the opportunity to re-engage in greatly missed activities, like baking scones with our granddaughters. The nurse who gave me my shot said, “This is the most important work I’ve ever done.” I was touched by her sentiment…
Keep Reading...Are You Overfunctioning? ONE Thing to Help
After coaching many nurses and leaders over the last year, I have noticed a common theme. When nurses are feeling overwhelmed or out of control, we tend to overfunction. Our inherent role as caregivers and problem solvers make this an obvious way to manage our stress, but it is not a sustainable one. Overfunctioning is…
Keep Reading...5 Things I AM LEARNING
We are in our 13th month of (you know what) and I am tired—of Zooming, masking, and social distancing. I miss traveling to see clients and host yoga retreats, sleepovers with my grandchildren, and birthday lunches with girlfriends. I know there is light at the end of the tunnel, but I am impatient for it…
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