3 QUESTIONS AND 3 STRATEGIES TO AVOID PHYSICIAN BURNOUT

Have you ever thought to yourself “maybe I’m experiencing burnout?” If you answer “yes” to the following questions you might need to take some action to reduce your risk for burnout.

-       Are you emotionally exhausted? 

-       Are you losing the empathy you used to have for your patients and staff?

-       Are you feeling dissatisfied by your achievements?

So what can you do about it? I have three suggestions.

1.     Sleep. Of course you know this, but it’s worth mentioning again because sleep is the foundation to our overall health, mental health, and ability to cope with acute stressors that arise. Try an experiment - prioritize getting 7-8 hours of sleep for a week. Do you feel less anxious and depressed?

2.     Small and healthy meals. As a physician the last thing you have is extra time to grocery shop and prepare healthy meals. Try this challenge - instead of grabbing the bag of chips at the hospital cafeteria could you choose the cheese stick and apple? Consider an athlete for a second. To perform at their best, athletes need high quality nutrition. Well, the same is true for physicians. The mental and sometimes physical strain of providing health care requires nutrition for peak performance. 

3.     Talk about it. Talking about the moral distress of caring for your patients can help you heal. This might mean consulting with a fellow physician, or it might mean seeking psychotherapy. Psychotherapy can be useful because you will reserve time to reflect and process your experiences. We heal through talking and through time.

No time? It’s all about how we prioritize the time we do have. Plus, you can email me about my telehealth services. Cut out of the commute and sitting in the waiting room and log on for a session at a time and place convenient for you.

Check out this article:

When the Surgeon Is a Mom https://nyti.ms/34zywXm