We live in a “more, faster, now” world, and paramedicine is no exception. But constantly pushing for the next qualification, role, or skill without stopping to breathe isn’t sustainable ... it’s exhausting.
Hustle culture doesn’t translate into long-term resilience. It just drains the tank you need to keep growing.
🛑 How Overplanning Leads to Burnout
When you cram your schedule with back-to-back CPD, overtime, and personal projects, you’re actually robbing yourself of the mental space you need to connect the dots.
Career growth isn’t about doing everything, it’s about doing the right things, at the right time, for the right reasons.
🔍 Do an Energy Audit
Look back over the past month and ask:
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Which career-related activities left me energised?
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Which ones drained me, even if they were “good” for my resume?
This gives you a baseline for making decisions about where to invest your time and effort next.
🌱 “Low-Load Growth” Ideas
You don’t have to step away from development completely to recharge. Instead, you can swap high-intensity activities for lighter, lower-energy ones:
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Micro-learning: short podcasts or articles instead of full-day workshops
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Light networking: catching up with a colleague for coffee instead of attending big events
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Passive reflection: journaling or reviewing your values without forcing action
📅 Actionable Tool: High-Energy / Low-Energy Week Planner
Plan your month so you alternate between:
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High-energy weeks: CPD courses, project work, interviews, networking events
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Low-energy weeks: reflective reading, short online modules, one-on-one mentoring
By intentionally pacing your growth, you keep moving without burning out.
💡 Takeaway
Career growth is a marathon, not a sprint.
When you honour your energy, you create the space to show up at your best, on the job, and in your long-term career planning.
