There is no one-size-fits-all remedy to avoiding burnout, it all depends on the person. Being a healthcare professional usually means that you give your heart and soul to your job and the people you encounter along the way.
Facing life or death issues day in and day out takes its toll on the strongest of people. Additionally, with long hours, a demanding workload and emotional drain, the end of some days may seem too far away. By the time it’s over, you have nothing left to give. Burnout in the workplace is extremely prevalent in this field, and having to put on a brave face in the presence of patients while trying to keep yourself together becomes near impossible.
Here are a few warning signs to look out for when you think you may be experiencing burnout:
Chronic low energy and exhaustion
Feels of inefficacy
Getting sick frequently
Not relaxing or taking time to recharge
Feeling disengaged
If you experience any of the feelings above, it’s time to talk to someone about it. Burnout is becoming one of the biggest occupational hazards of the twenty-first century and the impact can be huge. While you cannot change the amount of work you have to do, or the number of patients you can encounter in a given day, according to psychcentral.com, here are a few things you can do to help yourself:
“Be aware of how you are feeling each day.
While everyone has bad days, if you have been having a bad day for the last two weeks, something is wrong. Go talk to a trusted friend or see a therapist to try to sort through some of the feelings you have been having so you can get back to being the best you possible.
Talk it out with a co-worker if you feel overwhelmed.
Interacting with another person who can identify with what you are going through can be very beneficial. Emotional support from peers at work is essential to combat burnout.
Take time to care for yourself.
Whether it’s during a 15-minute break or an hour before bed, do something that you find enjoyable and relaxing. Taking a little “me-time” out of each day may seem difficult to do but the benefits are definitely worth it.
Join a support group.
Various methods such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) combined with other types of therapy, such as group therapy, can reduce burnout significantly.”