Derek Schmitz's Blog, page 2

Letter to Governor Kay Ivey Regarding Medicaid Expansion in Alabama

Today, I sent a letter to Governor Ivey regarding Medicaid expansion in Alabama. I spent over two hours writing this 3-page letter yesterday, including research and implementable solutions to the issue of expansion.

I wanted to share it here as well to make my views on the issue public and encourage donations to Alabama Arise, the organizers behind the Cover Alabama Coalition.

May 22, 2024 Letter from Derek Schmitz to AL Governor Kay Ivey

View in a new tab here. Accessibility was verified for this PDF by the PDF Accessibility Validation Engine.

Plain text version:

[Maroon DS logo on the left of a beige header]

Derek Schmitz
[redacted address]
[redacted email]
[redacted phone number]
web: derekschmitz.com

May 23, 2024 via First Class Mail

The Honorable Kay Ivey
Governor of Alabama
State Capitol
600 Dexter Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36130

Dear Governor Ivey,

My name is Derek Schmitz, and I am a constituent in Calhoun County. I am a 19-year-old disabled
advocate and paralegal student. I am writing to you today to urge you to reconsider your position on
Medicaid expansion for our great state. Please reply to this letter in writing to my mailing address above.

On May 13, 2024, you were sent a letter1 by the nonpartisan Cover Alabama Coalition (the “Cover
Alabama letter”) reiterating the importance of quality, affordable healthcare for all Alabamians. This letter received support from eighty-five partner organizations and provided hard evidence that supported the expansion of Medicaid in the state. In a statement to Alabama Daily News, your communications director reiterated your concerns for “how the state would pay for it long-term.”2 The Cover Alabama letter directly addressed these concerns in a way I believed succinct enough to help assuage your concerns; however, since your “position is unchanged,”3 I thought hearing from a constituent directly affected by this issue and who works in this realm would be beneficial.

I had the privilege of previously working with the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability
Employment Policy (ODEP) in a role that allowed me to go deep into the trenches of state-level transition planning (from high school to the workforce/post-secondary education) for disabled youth. A key component in the transition process is ensuring that access to healthcare continues. When meeting with policymakers in states who have expanded Medicaid, I have discovered that providing access to healthcare helps disabled people, and all people, become and stay employed. It is unreasonable to expect someone to work when their basic needs are unmet, so states around the country are helping to meet those needs by providing healthcare. I urge you to do the same, as you hold the power to do so without a vote by the Alabama legislature.

Nearly 300,000 people4 (roughly 6% of Alabama’s population) fall into the Medicaid coverage gap. Three hundred thousand of your constituents are faced with two choices if they are ill: “don’t seek medical care or seek very expensive, very inefficient medical care through local hospital emergency departments.”5 That is, frankly, unacceptable, given your ability to change that with the swoop of a pen.

I will acknowledge that the expansion of Medicaid is an expensive and time-consuming endeavor. For
most of the last decade, the concern regarding the cost of expansion was valid.

However, times have changed. Having not expanded prior to 2021, Alabama is eligible for up to $624 million in FMAP funding as an incentive to expand Medicaid.6 Medicaid expansion costs would also be subsidized by the federal government’s FMAP coverage increase of 90% for expanded states,7 leaving the state share at only 10%.

I parrot the requests of the Cover Alabama letter by pleading for an Alabama solution to closing the
health coverage gap. Such a solution must:
● Cover adults with incomes between 0% and 138% of the federal poverty level.
● Support labor force participation by keeping workers healthy.
● Protect rural access to health care.
● Ensure access to all medically appropriate drugs.
● Minimize administrative barriers and red tape to obtaining health coverage.
● Increase insurance coverage across ethnic, racial, age and income groups.
● Maximize federal dollars to reduce state costs and ensure the long-term financial health
of Medicaid.
● Address wraparound services, including non-emergency medical transportation.

Should you wish to trial these changes before making a full commitment to them, the federal Section 1115 pilot program is available to provide five years to assess the impact, costs and sustainability of the
program. In 2020, Georgia was authorized to partially expand Medicaid through the pilot program. In granting their application,8 the Trump-appointed CMS Administrator wrote:

We are committed to supporting states that seek to test measures that are likely to increase coverage and improve the health of beneficiaries, and make them more financially independent, which in turn supports the fiscal sustainability of states’ Medicaid programs. We expect that such demonstration policies will improve beneficiaries’ physical and mental health, resulting in these beneficiaries consuming fewer health care services and resources while they are enrolled in Medicaid, which will preserve Medicaid program resources, make the Medicaid program more efficient, and potentially reduce the program’s national average annual cost per beneficiary of $7871.

Seema Verma, CMS Administrator (2017—2021)

If the State of Alabama were to make a similar application, I believe it would be granted, giving you and your Administration adequate time to fully test the hypothesis that expansion will be too expensive.

I hope this information helps you make the right decision for Alabamians and expand Medicaid.

Thank you for your time and attention to this sensitive matter. I look forward to hearing from and
partnering with you to ensure that all Alabamians have access to affordable, high-quality healthcare.

Respectfully,
[signature.png]
Derek Schmitz
Lead Advocate, Derek Schmitz Advocacy
Digitally signed at 2024/05/22 19:56:56

Endnotes

May 13, 2024 Cover Alabama Letter
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e5d885fd1d06a5c284ecaf0/t/664378ab9d41d834ebb4d917
/1715697835928/Website+V ersion+May+2024+Cover+AL+letter+to+Gov+Ivey.pdfAL.com – Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey remains skeptical about Medicaid expansion, May 21, 2024
(paragraph 3)
https://www.al.com/news/2024/05/alabama-gov-kay-ivey-remains-skeptical-about-medicaid-expa
nsion.html?outputType=ampAL.com – Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey remains skeptical about Medicaid expansion, May 21, 2024
(paragraph 4)
https://www.al.com/news/2024/05/alabama-gov-kay-ivey-remains-skeptical-about-medicaid-expa
nsion.html?outputType=ampCommunity Catalyst – Analysis of Alabama Health Care Coverage Gaps Among Working People,
August 2023 https://communitycatalyst.org/resource/working-people-health-coverage-gaps/Comeback Town – Alabama paying the cost of Medicaid expansion but getting none of the benefits, March 21, 2023 (paragraph 3)
https://comebacktown.com/2023/03/21/alabama-paying-the-cost-of-medicaid-expansion-but-getting-none-of-the-benefits/Center on Budget and Policy Priorities – Medicaid Expansion: Frequently Asked Questions, March 18, 2024 (table 1)
https://www.cbpp.org/research/health/medicaid-expansion-frequently-asked-questions-0Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama – The Economic Impact of Expanding Medicaid in
Alabama, January 12, 2022 (paragraphs 6-7)
https://parcalabama.org/the-economic-impact-of-expanding-medicaid-in-alabama/October 15, 2020 Letter from CMS Administrator Seema V erma to Frank W. Berry, Commissioner, Georgia Department of Community Health (page 2)
https://www.medicaid.gov/Medicaid-CHIP-Program-Information/By-Topics/Waivers/1115/downl
oads/ga/ga-pathways-to-coverage-ca.pdf

Favorite Criminal Law Course Discussions

I just finished up with my Criminal Law class during my second semester of Paralegal schooling and wanted to share my favorite discussion posts from throughout the semester!

Please note that while the views expressed in these discussions are consistent with my beliefs, some feelings or beliefs may be toned down as these were originally submitted in an academic environment.

Week 5 Question: Do you think [probable cause] is a good and fair standard? Did the detective speaker offer you any insights into this standard? How do you think the standard could be changed, if you think that it should, and what issues do you see with it overall?

Week 5 Answer:

I believe that probable cause is a fair standard, however, I believe there should be a quantifiable standard to be met before it can be invoked, especially when dealing with traffic stops. An officer simply saying they smell something like weed or alcohol should not be enough to force someone from their car for a search. However, that suspicion plus verifiable (illegal) action should raise to the standard. As the current standard of probable cause is so broad, it may fall short of the Founder’s intentions to fully protect citizens from illegal searches.

Week 8 Question: What did you think about the Ted Talk in this week’s folder? Did you agree or disagree? Did you find merit in this argument? Would you add to or take away any of this information? Did anything particularly stand out to you?

Week 8 Answer:

I enjoyed the TED Talk this week, so much so that after watching it for the first time, I printed out and took notes on the transcript. Mr. Daniels shares a unique perspective on how activism can empower others to create change, something I strive to do every day. I found it particularly interesting when he noted that some of the prosecutors were unaware of the extent to which incarceration creates barriers for people, especially those who are already in a minority group (being a person of color, LGBT, etc). I applaud him for his work in further developing education for public servants regarding incarcerated people and was very enlightened by his talk. 

Week 11 Question: Do YOU think [the cash bond system] is fair? Why or why not–or why are you not sure? What do you think could be done differently?

Week 11 Answer:

I believe the cash bond system is not fair and especially disparages marginalized people. Cash bonds serve as an easy pass for rich people to get out of jail and for bondsmen to get rich, while keeping those who are indigent or who cannot make bond inside the prison system. A person presumed innocent should not be held in jail solely because they cannot pay bail. If they are a community risk, I understand the remand to prison as a viable option. If safety is not a concern, I think a reasonable alternative to prison would be a release on one’s recognizance with the stipulation of GPS monitoring to ensure appearance.

Week 15 Question: What do you think about the trial by jury? Is it a good system? Do you think it works the way it is supposed to? In our more modern world today, can you offer any suggestions for ways to improve the trial process?

Week 15 Answer:

I believe trial by jury is the fairest tool we have in the justice system if it’s done right. Having people from a multitude of backgrounds, who don’t know each other, come together unanimously to decide someone’s fate is one of the highest standards out there.

I do believe sequestration should be standard though, as it is the only way to completely ensure there is no outside influence to the jury. When juries are instructed to disregard things or to only look at the evidence, they can’t just forget things. I think potential jurors should be briefed on the case and common terminology by the judge prior to the start of the case to help them be better informed.

Week 16 Question: Do you think the [justice] system is broken, and if so, do you have any suggestions to fix it?

Week 16 Answer:

Broken is a strong word, however, I believe there are many glaring flaws.

Chiefly in my mind is the cash bail/bond system. As I said in my previous discussion on the topic, bonds “serve as an easy pass for rich people to get out of jail and for bondsmen to get rich, while keeping those who are indigent or who cannot make bond inside the prison system. A person presumed innocent should not be held in jail solely because they cannot pay bail” (Schmitz, Week 11).

Additionally, even though efforts are made to prevent this, wrongful convictions do occur. A recent study published in the Journal of Quantitative Criminology estimated that “wrongful convictions occur in 6% of criminal convictions leading to imprisonment in an intake population of state prisoners” (Loeffler et al., 2018). Six percent may not sound like a lot, but if we figure that 1,000,000 people are incarcerated (Wisevoter, 2023), that means that 60,000 of them are wrongfully convicted across the United States.

These issues highlight the need for adequate defense attorneys (and paralegals) and changes to the system as a whole to make “justice for all” come true. Suggestions I have to fix these issues are to increase the number of people released on recognizance with GPS monitoring to ensure court appearances and to review all claims of wrongful conviction promptly. I’ve really enjoyed this class and can’t wait for next semester!

Sources:

Loeffler, C. E., Hyatt, J., & Ridgeway, G. (2018). Measuring self-reported wrongful convictions among prisoners. Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 35(2), 259–286. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10940-018-9381-1

Schmitz, D. (2024, March 24). Week 11 Discussion. Class discussion, Gadsden State Community College.

Wisevoter. (2023, June 22). Prison population by state 2023. https://wisevoter.com/state-rankings/prison-population-by-state/

Thanks for reading! While I’m on the topic, I am starting to look for a civil rights law firm in Alabama to host me as their Paralegal intern. Here is a copy of my full CV if you’d like to take a look, and please email jobsearch@derekschmitz.com with the Subject line: PI Information or click this link to open a new email with the address and subject line propogated.

Onward and Upward

This post is a mixed archive of posts from my public LinkedIn and private Facebook.

This week has been great, but also quite bittersweet.

On Tuesday, I had my last patient visit to Children’s of Alabama with the doctor and care team that I’ve been with since I was a baby. At the end of the appointment, my doctor stood, shook my hand, and commended me for the work I do as an advocate. I’ll still be part of the Children’s family, especially as I continue my work with Extra Life, the streaming-based donation platform that I donate my time to, but it was striking that I’m no longer a patient.

Alt. text embedded – Taken 04/16/24 by me

Then, on Wednesday, I was honored to be presented with the James L. Brown Free Enterprise Scholarship at the Gadsden State Community College Wallace Drive Honor’s Day Ceremony by Elizabeth McGlaughn. I received the scholarship as a result of the work I do as an advocate through Derek Schmitz: Advocacy.

I never considered that my advocacy, what I thought to be just a “thing” I did, was a business venture worth recognition. I often say that advocacy is an exhausting profession with lackluster recognition, as we are often the unnamed people who get the balls rolling to effect change. It felt amazing to be recognized for the work I put in. Thank you again to Elizabeth McGlaughn, Catherine Bailey, Pamela Curry, and countless others for always believing in me and encouraging me to keep going.

Also on Wednesday, I was formally inducted into Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society as a member of the Rho Rho Chapter by Ms. Melissa Davis and finalized my Paralegal Student Membership with the American Bar Association.

Alt. text embedded – Taken 04/17/24, photo courtesy of Gadsden State Community College, FlickrAlt. text embedded – Taken 04/17/24 by Shirley Schmitz

On the heels of these achievements, I proudly released an updated copy of my CV as I prepare to begin seeking out Paralegal internships for the Spring of 2025. I would be honored to join your team.

I’m so grateful for all of the opportunities I’ve been presented with, especially considering my parents were told I’d never walk or talk when I was born. Onward and upward!

Camden’s Secret and Sevan Upcoming Book Sale: December 14th—20th

If you haven’t started your Christmas shopping yet (no shame), my books will be going on sale on December 14 for only $0.99! They’d make great gifts for the young adult reader in your life! Or, read anytime for free with Kindle Unlimited!

To order an eBook as a gift on Amazon:

Go to go.derekschmitz.com/Amazon (or click Amazon in my link in bio)Pick the book you want to send as a giftClick “Buy for others”Choose your delivery method (have Amazon send it to them directly or get a link to give them yourself)If Amazon sends it, they need email addresses, your name, a message to attach, and a delivery date (I always set it for Christmas Day).Checkout as normal!

I hope you enjoy it!

2024 Rates

Derek Schmitz 2024 Comprehensive Rate HubDownload

Census Action Alert Update 2

A month ago, I published an action alert due to the Census Bureau’s intent to change the definition of disability and the screening questions they use to compile disability data.

Today, I’m glad to report that the change has not been adopted, at least not at this point. This is largely due to the pushback received by the disability community. The National Advisory Committee, in their meeting on November 16 (starting at timestamp 7:44:05 in the recording) made the recommendation that the Bureau “not adopt” any changes to the new set of questions until “a representative cross-section of diverse members of the disability community can be consulted prior to any future changes to the disability data questions to safeguard against omitting many people with disabilities from the process.”

It’s important to note that these recommendations have not been finalized and that additional work on specific language is currently being completed. The Federal Register notice comment period is still open until December 19, and I still encourage submissions to that form, if you haven’t already. Sometime in the next few days, I intend to write and publish my own response to the Federal Register notice. Below is an overview, from my previous action alert, on how to submit to the Federal Register:

By law, anytime a federal agency wants to make a change, they have to put a notice in the Federal Register (big book) informing the public of the change they intend to make and allow comments from the public on it. This period is typically 60 days long (as of 12/1, there are 18 days left).

This is where you should submit more detailed comments. To submit a comment, click the green “Submit a Formal Comment” button on this page.

In your comment, consider including:

Your relation to the issue (disabled person, non-disabled ally, academic, doctor, etc). Also include any relevant credentials in this area (MD, Disability Advocate, etc)An explanation of why you oppose the change of metrics.The impact this change may have on you/the community.

The Regulations.gov Commenter Checklist (republished and linked to from the Administrative Conference for the United States) here includes the above recommendations I’ve outlined to be particularly relevant, plus additional suggestions.

A brief note about form letters and decision-making by federal agencies, pulled from the Commenter Checklist, for emphasis: “Many in the public mistakenly believe that their submitted form letter constitutes a “vote” regarding the issues concerning them. Although public support or opposition may help guide important public policies, agencies make determinations for a proposed action based on sound reasoning and scientific evidence rather than a majority of votes. A single, well-supported comment may carry more weight than a thousand form letters.”

I implore you to use data in your comments. Make sure that your comment is:

individualized to state your beliefs on the proposed changes,complete, andrelevant to the regulation only

Do not include personal information or profanity, as this can result in your comment not being published publicly.

The in-progress recommendation by the National Advisory Committee is an exceptional step, which strongly discourages the proposed changes. It is a huge relief. But, there is still more we can do, so I encourage the continual submission of Federal Register comments until the close of the comment period to add even more pressure on the Census to continue consulting the disability community before making these decisions.

Hat tip to Sarah Blahovec on LinkedIn for her continued following of this issue and breaking the news to me through my feed.

Action Alert: US Census Disability Definition Proposed Changes

Yesterday, I posted an Action Alert on Twitter about the US Census’ intent to modify the definition of disability in a way that provides less complete data. I’ve pasted it below, and I want to also use this space to outline what the changes are, why they’re bad, and what to say if you file a Federal Register comment or send an email submission for the upcoming hearing.

Note: As a paralegal student, I am strictly prohibited from giving legal advice or opinion. No content of this post should be construed as such, as I am not an attorney.

Brief:Original Action Alert:

Action alert: The US Census has issued a notice of its intent to change how disability data is collected by changing the definition of disability. These far-reaching changes would fundamentally alter disability data accessible to researchers, scholars, and community members.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Submit a public comment to the Census National Advisory Committee before November 16 at noon EST. HOW? Email a short message (readable in under 2 minutes) by the deadline to shana.j.banks@census.gov with the subject line 2023 NAC Fall Meeting Public Comment.

WHAT YOU CAN DO 2: Respond to the current Federal Register request for comment before December 19. HOW? Go to the Federal Register Docket here, Click “Create Formal Comment.” Note that anything you place in the Comment box will be made public. Enter your email, select your type (Individual, Organization, or Anonymus), fill in any additional information, check the box for understanding, then click Submit.

Let’s keep accurate data flowing to those who need it most to better represent our community!

In-Depth:What’s Happening?

According to Dr. Bonnielin Swenor of the Johns Hopkins Disability Health Research Center here, the Census Bureau is changing the set of questions from the American Community Survey (ACS) to the Washington Group Short Set (WGSS) of questions. This change will reduce the national disability estimates from 14% to 8%, which will negatively impact disabled people. More shockingly, these changes have moved forward without the input of the disability community.

Swenor, in a letter to the Census Bureau, cosigned by six other disabled and disability data scholars, notes “Although the ACS and WGSS questions have known limitations and undercount or exclude
many groups of disabled people, there is overwhelming evidence that the ACS disability
questions outperform the WGSS.” Swenor also notes particularly concerning acknowledgments by members of the Census Advisory Committee that these changes will produce lower disability prevalence estimates than the ACS questions and notes that the WGSS questions method of “assessing disability is not widely supported within the societal context of disability in the United States.”

Why it Matters:

Data on disability rates in the United States are quintessential to keep up with for academic, medical, government decision-making, and community purposes. These changes, as Dr. Swenor notes in her letter, will lower the rate of disability prevalence in the US. The current 14% of disabled people will be reduced to 8%, and the data collected from 2020 does not reflect the significant portion of people disabled by Long COVID or the ongoing pandemic.

Changing the metric now will further undercount disabled people at a time when we should have complete, accurate, and evolving data that reflects the reality of the moment.

What Can You Do?1. Email a brief public comment to be read at the Census Advisory Committee meeting before November 16 at Noon EST.

Your short message (verbally readable in under two minutes) must be emailed to shana.j.banks@census.gov with the subject line “2023 NAC Fall Meeting Public Comment” before November 16 at Noon EST. It will be read live during the meeting on November 17 and will be made public on the National Advisory Committee Fall Meeting: November 16-17, 2023 webpage here.

It is important to note that submissions through this venue are immediately made public upon receipt, so be sure to remove any personally identifiable or confidential information (phone number or email address).

Sample Message:

“We need accurate, complete disability data to continue and as a disabled person, I ask the Census Bureau not to make changes to the definition of disability.”

2. Submit a comment to the Federal Register Request for Comment before December 19 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

By law, anytime a federal agency wants to make a change, they have to put a notice in the Federal Register (big book) informing the public of the change they intend to make and allow comments from the public on it. This period is typically 60 days long.

This is where you should submit more detailed comments. To submit a comment, click the green “Submit a Formal Comment” button on this page.

In your comment, consider including:

Your relation to the issue (disabled person, non-disabled ally, academic, doctor, etc). Also include any relevant credentials in this area (MD, Disability Advocate, etc)An explanation of why you oppose the change of metrics. The impact this change may have on you/the community.

The Regulations.gov Commenter Checklist (republished and linked to from the Administrative Conference for the United States) here includes the above recommendations I’ve outlined to be particularly relevant, plus additional suggestions.

A brief note about form letters and decision-making by federal agencies, pulled from the Commenter Checklist, for emphasis: “Many in the public mistakenly believe that their submitted form letter constitutes a “vote” regarding the issues concerning them. Although public support or opposition may help guide important public policies, agencies make determinations for a proposed action based on sound reasoning and scientific evidence rather than a majority of votes. A single, well-supported comment may carry more weight than a thousand form letters.”

I implore you to use data in your comments. I’d recommend Dr. Swenor’s letter and her attached data linked above as a good starting point for data-searching. Don’t cut and paste from that letter, but allow the data she and her colleagues use to guide you in your own conclusion and back up your claim.

Make your comment:

individualized to state your beliefs on the proposed changes,complete, andrelevant to the regulation only

Do not include personal information or profanity, as this can result in your comment not being published publicly.

Let’s keep accurate data flowing to those who need it most to better represent our community!

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery at Exceptional Alliances 2023 Accessibility and Intersectionality Panel, October 20, 2023

Panel questions are top-level bullets, followed by Derek’s answers.

Get access to an archive of ALL sessions and transcripts by signing up for an Exceptional Lab Community Membership!

What is intersectionality? How does it show up for you?I think of intersectionality as a Venn Diagram, where all facets of a person’s identity come together in the middle and intersect. For me, that shows up in my nonbinary, queer, and disabled identities.How are oppressed people affected when one or more points of intersectionality prevents access, quality care, or support?There is definitely more oppression as more points of intersection arise. When access, quality care, and support are limited as a result of intersectionality, suffering happens as we are not seen as our whole selves.In what ways do you continually advocate for yourself or others using your intersectionality?I love this question specifically due to how my intersectionality shows up. My disabilities and gender expression go hand-in-hand, as I am nonbinary to pull myself away from the traditional “masculine” image, some of which I can’t do due to my disabilities. I’ve previously delivered countless presentations on recognizing the importance of intersectionality when developing youth systems and leveraging all facets of a person’s identity in the workplace.Thinking about the different parts of your intersectionality, do you ever wish that you had less or more intersectionality? Are there pros or cons?All of my intersectionality comes together to make me who I am; I wouldn’t change anything. There are barriers I definitely face, especially related to my queer and nonbinary identities and not being safe to come out in certain instances, but I feel that having that experience makes me more empathetic to others in the same situations. I dream of a world where all people can be recognized as their whole selves at all times, in all situations.What suggestions do you have for adding intersectionality to research and inclusive programs?I have a lot of suggestions here, but to respect time, I’ll just hit on the top few. Researchers can make their language more inclusive in surveys and include an option for nonbinary people in their demographics sections. When we look at program design, it’s important to consider that anyone who uses your program may be disabled and build in accessibility tools from the start, not as an afterthought. That’s the biggest part of universal design in my view and something I really focus on helping program designers accomplish as an accessibility consultant, where I work to ensure everything is as accessible as possible for all users.

PRESS: Exceptional Lab to Host Epic Virtual Accessibility Event

PRESS: Exceptional Lab to Host Epic Virtual Accessibility Event

My Journey to Setting Work/Life Boundaries

Setting boundaries is something that’s always been hard for me. I used to (and still sometimes do) say “yes” to a lot of things I don’t have the capacity for. I feel like that’s an experience most folks can relate to nowadays. A big area I struggled in was that I gave everybody work-related (coworkers, managers, and clients alike) my personal cell phone number to talk about work outside of work. I was practically always on, always available for a “quick” call or text from someone about work, regardless of what time it was. I was always the person people go to to get things done, again, no matter how stretched thin I was. That’s exhausting. But, I figured, “That’s life at work, I’ve got to.” So I did, and like clockwork, every two and a half months, I would break.

When I started therapy in early May, one of the first things my therapist asked me was, “How are you surviving?” My honest answer was, “I don’t know.” She followed that up with, “I know exactly what you need, some boundaries!” And ever since then, with her help, I’ve been working hard every day to prioritize myself. I now have an easier time saying no and sticking up for myself.

It started small, as I created time blocks throughout the day for work (Monday, Wednesday: 10 AM–12 PM, 2 PM–6 PM; Tuesday, Thursday: 2 PM–5:30 PM; Friday: 10 AM–12 PM, 1 PM–4 PM; Saturday, Sunday: 1 PM–4 PM) and asked both my therapist and my amazing partner to be firm in not allowing me to work past my “on” hours or in my off hours. I also stopped working for free, as I have been empowered to realize my worth. And, over the weekend, I bought a cheap little Android, downloaded TextNow for a phone number, and removed all my work apps from my cell phone. My work phone will only be on when I am on, and it is the only thing besides my desktop that I will do any work on.

I also sent this message to people who I think have my cell phone number, to clearly establish my new boundary with them:

“Greetings!

I hope you’re well! I wanted to let you know that I have converted my old office phone number into a mobile work phone number. For reference, this number is (redacted number). In the future, as I’m working on setting and establishing boundaries and attempting to separate personal from work, I would appreciate it if you only communicated with me through this number or via email. I kindly request that you update your contact cards for me respectively and remove my personal cell phone number from your contacts.

I’m emailing this to you as part of a mass-BCC message because we have either communicated over the phone in the past or I believe you have my cell phone number. If you don’t have my personal number and ended up on this list anyway, feel free to disregard this message, and have a great day! 

I will have the phone associated with the new work number on my person at all times, but I will only reply to texts or answer calls during my typical working hours (in my email signature) unless we communicate otherwise on a case-by-case basis. If you have any questions, please let me know, and be sure only to hit “Reply” and not “Reply All” so there is no confusion. Thank you so much for helping me establish this boundary!”

I’m certainly not finished on my journey to creating and enforcing boundaries, nor my journey to self-healing. But today, I am proud of myself for doing the hard things and creating space for myself to separate from work. And I encourage you to do the same if you need it. It’s worth it, and there’s so much less stress.