Work-Life Balance for Nurse Practitioners | Hippo Education

While clinic schedules and waiting rooms ebb and flow with seasonal illnesses, the demands on clinician time remain constant.

There are always patients to see, portal messages to answer, and labs to follow up on.

Summer brings its own unique challenges to work-life balance for nurse practitioners. Instead of flu and cold symptoms, schedules fill up with common summertime concerns like pre-travel visits, rashes, and musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries from outdoor activities.

Beyond the clinic, many nurse practitioners juggle family commitments and travel—which often means adjusting to colleagues taking PTO as well. It can feel like someone is always out of the office, adding to your workload.

Here are some practical, real-world tips to help you protect your time, set boundaries, and avoid clinician burnout this summer.

Set a Summer Schedule

Got family events or hobbies that need your attention after clinic hours?

Set clear boundaries that you won’t be available outside of work (unless you’re on call, of course).

Communicate these expectations to patients and colleagues—including when you’ll respond to portal messages. Tools like automatic email replies can help reinforce your boundaries.

Most importantly, once you’ve set those boundaries, stick to them.

Use Your PTO

Paid time off exists for a reason. It’s not just a perk—it’s essential for rest and recharging.

The problem is that many of us do not use our PTO! Even if you’re not planning a big vacation, consider taking a day off every few weeks.

Use those days to truly rest—without guilt. Yes, patients will still need care. But you also need time to care for yourself so you can continue to care for them.

Fine-Tune Your Efficiency

With cold and flu season behind you, summer is the perfect time to review your workflow and time management.

Ask yourself:

• Could new dot phrases or macros make documentation easier?
• Are there tasks that could be delegated to a medical assistant, nurse, or staff member?
• Have any clinician colleagues shared time-saving strategies that might work for you?

Small changes now can pay off big when the busy season returns.

Support Yourself with Summertime Self-Care

Longer summer days give you more opportunities to prioritize your own well-being.

Consider trying:

• A morning or evening walk or bike ride
• Journaling on your porch or balcony
• Visiting local farmers' markets and exploring new, fresh recipes
• Joining a yoga studio or using free meditation apps to practice mindfulness

Caring for others is important, meaningful work. But your patients need you at your best—which means committing to your own well-being too.

So this summer, Hippo NPs, let’s care for ourselves as diligently as we care for others.