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Dr Jo Braid FAFRM is a seasoned rehabilitation physician with two decades of expertise in neuro-rehabilitation and an award-winning coach dedicated to transforming burnout recovery for healthcare professionals. Based in Orange, she actively engages in her community and hosts The Burnout Recovery podcast. She delivers interactive keynotes and personalised 1:1 coaching programs, working in her clinical role at on a part-time basis. Her passion for mental wellbeing, combined with her deep understanding of the human brain, empowers individuals to thrive. Here’s a day in her life.

06:00 I love waking while the house is quiet, for reflective time with a hot coffee and my journal. I’ll put music on and often light a candle. A great start to the day with a brain dump (journalling) then Wordle.

06:30 Movement is something I love to bring into my day — if I’m commuting to Bathurst (45-minute drive), I’ll do a 20-minute yoga flow before getting ready for the day. The time to move and meditate sets me up well for the day ahead and whatever comes.

07:00 Time to get the kids ready for school — lunch boxes, support with any homework or music practice. We like to run ‘ahead’ of schedule. The kids really prefer time to play before school starts rather than rushing in last minute before the bell.

07:30 Time to leave for clinic in Bathurst or drop the kids to before-school training.

08:00 Drive time.

08:30 If I’m coaching (virtual from home), I start my day with a session at the gym, once a week with my personal trainer. Keeping my body strong as I age healthily is a priority.

09:30 I often have a coffee with a friend before starting my workday as a coach and podcaster. It’s time to connect, listen and catch up. Human relationships are so important for any of us, and I make sure I have one to two coffee catch-ups per week.

10:00 If I’m in clinic… we have our team meeting to discuss clients for review, those who are referred to our service (Mid Western Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program, covering a vast geographic area) and journal club. If I’m coaching… I’m on time with a glass of water, distractions turned off and ready to connect with my client for a 45-minute coaching session, working on any challenges and using our brains to find the solutions. I always ask my clients to celebrate what is going well and name a couple of takeaways from the coaching session to reinforce the tools we have used.

Jo at Bathurst Health Service, where she works part-time in the Mid Western Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program.

10:30 Following our team meeting, we all walk down to the cafe at the hospital for a walk and talk. Valuing movement and time to connect in our workdays.

11:00 I see between five and seven patients in clinic with lengthy appointment times to cover their recovery from brain injury with a comprehensive approach. Often, we are discussing memory and fatigue strategies, the process to return-to-driving and return-to-work plans.

12:30 Lunch is something light, usually outside with my team in Bathurst avoiding the swooping magpies. At home I’ll eat lunch by the pool with the black Labrador salivating beside me!

13:00 I plan out my podcast schedule on The Burnout Recovery podcast to have a guest on the first episode every month. This involves invitations, scheduling, recording, and publishing with social media and a weekly newsletter. I love the opportunity to interview people I might not have met in my life otherwise and hear their wisdom and stories of recovery and fulfilment. I outsource help with editing and publishing my podcast and do the rest myself. It’s one of my favourite creative spaces I have in my schedule and I time block it to think, draft, record and share my podcast episodes. To date, I have released over 120 podcast episodes with over 30,000 downloads — that’s a big auditorium of people listening to this niche area of burnout recovery in health care!

Jo in her home office, where she meets virtually with clients and works on The Burnout Recovery podcast.

14:00 I’m one of the facilitators in the Schwartz Rounds at Bathurst Health Service. We piloted this social and emotional wellbeing program in 2024, and it was such a success we are continuing it in 2025. It’s a space to connect for all hospital staff — from the kitchens to porters to clinicians. We hold the rounds once a month and discuss important topics like ‘The patient I’ll never forget’ or ‘What keeps me up at night’ or ‘Leading through stress and uncertainty’. It’s such a great program and connects us all as humans in the healthcare system, recognising the emotional challenges we all have. The rounds go for an hour; we do prep beforehand and debrief as facilitators after.

15:00 Collecting the kids is a part of my day I love and aim to do on the days I am in Orange. We have great conversations on the way home and I enjoy the connection time with my two sons in primary school. My eldest is in boarding school and we chat a couple of times per day.

18:00 We eat together as a family — an important connection time and space where we all contribute. Often, I will go for a walk around the block with my middle son and the dog for a chat.

19:30 Time to read with the kids before lights out.

20:30 My preferred time to read.

21:00 Digital sunset — time to wind down for the evening and turn off all screens.

21:30 I love my sleep and prioritise it! Head on the pillow before 10 pm on a regular basis. I name three things I’m grateful for before I close my eyes. The day ends well.

22:00 Sleep.

Images: Supplied