Mindfulness and Mental Health for SLPs in 2025: Starting the Year with Balance

I might know what you are thinking reading that title.. "Mindfulness as an SLP? You do know the size of my caseload, right?!" Unfortunately I do. I have also experienced the weight and pressure of an ever growing caseload, endless IEP/clinic staff/parent/you name it meetings, and juggling a work life balance while feeling like I am always dropping something important. If this sounds like you in your profession right now keep reading. I promise to explore things you can implement TODAY to add mindfulness and increase your mental and physical wellbeing as a busy professional. (Don't worry we can discuss the ethics of caseload/client list sizes in another blog post, but if this is your reality today, let's dive in).

Mindfulness and Mental Health for SLPs in 2025: Starting the Year with Balance

So first why is this important? I'm sure you've heard the analogy of putting on your own oxygen mask before helping others, well that directly applies to "helping professions". As an SLP you are constantly evaluating how to help others: how to pivot and change a goal, which technique might best help your client, how are your client's caregivers handling burnout? Yet when have you stopped to consider your own caregiver burnout? It is easy to lose yourself in your profession. So with the fresh start of 2025, let's explore some ways to take your own deep breath of oxygen in order to more fully help others with their mask.

Decompressing Drives

If you have back to back scheduled clients, you likely don't have time to settle in a day. Your mind is constantly evaluating and problem solving. Take your drive home as an opportunity to re-set. This will look different for each individual. It might be turning off the music and driving home in silence, or maybe it is blasting your pump up playlist at full volume. Maybe it is calling a friend to chat, or listening to your favorite audiobook you never seem to have time for. Whatever it is, be intentional with this time. Use it as a way to leave work at work and step into another role you play in life.

Mindfulness and Meditation

If meditation is a practice you do not already engage in consider adding it to your daily routine for 2025. I recommend downloading "Insight Timer" on the app store. This free resource has been life-changing for me (no this isn't sponsored, but Insight Timer Team if you're reading this.. hi I'm your biggest fan). I first heard about this resource in graduate school when we all talked about facing the daily insecurities and stressors of learning to be a clinician. With one of the best free versions of an app I have ever seen, you have access to thousands of guided meditations covering a vast range of topics and soundscapes.

Find time in your day to implement a quick guided meditation. It could be before bed to unwind your mind, or maybe for 5 minutes at your desk between clients (I have done this before, just set your filter on the app to 5 minutes or the amount of time you have). This allows you to recenter and calm your mind, reduce stress, and find emotional resilience during busy days.

Intentional time off

Whether you have one day off a week or a few, choose to be intentional with the time you do have. Avoid checking emails, prepare ahead for clients so you do not spend days off prepping, and save work chat for work hours. You deserve time off, and your clients deserve clinicians who are able to be fully present during therapy hours (and this comes from taking a much needed break when you have one). Get outside, get lost in a book, spend time with friends and family, and have a reset. You do not win any medals by being the most burned out, and YOU are the only one in control of your days off. Keep it that way!

Morning or Lunch Routines

Find a time in your day that you can reclaim as your own. Whether this is creating a morning routine you look forward to before work, or carving out a lunch hour away from the office each day, make it your own. For some this looks like waking up a little earlier than normal and exercising, writing your daily intentions, or making yourself a breakfast. You'll be amazed at how refreshing it is to have a routine you actually enjoy. If you pick lunchtime-- eat outside on sunny days, or sit in your car for a break from the walls of the clinic when you can.

Find Community

As SLPs we often find ourselves working alone-- sometimes you are the only SLP in the clinic or at the school at one time. This can feel isolating. This year commit to finding other SLPs you can relate to. Connect with others at your work/clinic, join online social media groups for SLPs, or meet up for lunch with another SLP in your district. However you choose to do it, find others you relate to. Share your personal wins of the week, seek advice, and support each other in the difficult times. It's a lot easier to be a mindful balanced professional when you are not doing it alone.

Conclusion

Burnout is a significant and prevalent challenge among Speech-Language Pathologists, impacting both personal well-being and professional performance. Let 2025 be the year you implement mindfulness and positive mental health strategies into your day and career. Show up for yourself to better show up for your clients. What is one way you can thrive as an SLP this year?