drlorrainesharp

Directions Website

Family doctor writing about burnout, boundaries and the mental load high-achieving women carry. Capacity is not Character.

11/09/2026

We are all the things to all the people.
We care give.
We plan.
We organize.
We love.

And we are tired. Overwhelmed. Frustrated. Burned out.

What are we doing to take care of ourselves?

11/08/2026

Women in medicine, this one’s for you. People pleasing doesn’t vanish after burnout recovery. I have good boundaries now, and I still catch myself saying yes before I’ve thought about it, or feeling guilty for saying no.

What changed is that I notice it sooner, usually before the yes is out of my mouth, and the guilt settles only briefly. Setting boundaries turned out to be less about one big decision and more about catching these small moments. Still a work in progress.

Which one still catches you?

I write more about high-functioning burnout and boundaries in my newsletter, Capacity Is Not Character. Link in bio.

11/08/2026

People pleasing after burnout recovery: I have good boundaries now, and I still catch myself saying yes before I’ve thought about it, or feeling guilty for saying no.

As a doctor who spent years overfunctioning, I’ve noticed the pull doesn’t go away. What changes is that I notice it sooner, usually before the yes is out of my mouth, and the guilt passes instead of settling in. Setting boundaries turned out to be less about one big decision and more about catching these small moments.

Which one still catches you?

I write more about high-functioning burnout and boundaries in my newsletter, Capacity Is Not Character. Link in bio.

11/08/2026

Putting myself first is on my list. It’s just been sitting under “reply to that email” and “figure out dinner” for a while now. This is the quiet math of overfunctioning, where everyone else’s needs feel urgent and mine feel optional, and somehow I’m still surprised I’m tired.

When was the last time, honestly?

11/08/2026

You’re tired. Exhausted. Carrying it. Putting in the work. I see you.

11/08/2026

You might not be okay. You might be burned out, exhausted, tired, not sleeping, neglecting your self, your partner, your hobbies. You might be quietly continuing on. But we see you. We notice.

11/07/2026

Learning as Women Physician Leaders.
Day 1 highlights.

CWIM Gather

11/05/2026

Burnout isn’t the end. It’s information. Keep showing up.

07/31/2026

I used to think a boundary wasn’t valid unless I could justify it. So I’d over-explain, build a case, brace for pushback. Somewhere along the way I noticed the opposite skill actually mattered more: naming what I feel, clearly, before it turns into a defense. The feeling needs the words. The boundary just needs to hold.

Still a daily struggle on this one.

Which one do you spend more energy on?

EmotionalLiteracy

Address

Sault Sainte Marie, ON

Website

http://www.drlorrainesharp.com/, https://linktr.ee/Heydrsharp, https://open.substack.com/pub/capacityisnotcharacter

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when drlorrainesharp posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.