Burnout is a common issue among physicians. Physicians are susceptible to burnout because they tend to experience high levels of stress, which can lead to feelings of hopelessness and emotional exhaustion. Physicians have one of the most challenging and stressful careers, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. Whether you’re a resident or an internist, there are ways to prevent burnout.
Make Time For Self-Care
Self-care is an important part of maintaining work-life balance, but often it’s the first thing to go when you’re struggling with burnout. To better understand self-care and how to incorporate it into your day, let’s start with the basics: what exactly is self-care?
Self-care is any activity that promotes physical or mental health and well-being. It can include anything from getting enough sleep, eating healthy food and exercising regularly (as well as finding time for fun activities like going out with friends) all the way up through practicing mindfulness techniques or taking time off work when you need it most. Dr John Manzella is a physician who has experienced burnout, but he is also an author and speaker.
Take Breaks Throughout The Day
To prevent burnout, it’s important to take breaks throughout the day. If you feel overwhelmed or your mind is wandering, take a five-minute walk around the block. If you’re feeling tired and need some energy, get up from your desk and do some jumping jacks or pushups in your office chair–or even better yet: go outside! It’s amazing how rejuvenating fresh air can be, especially when it comes with a bit of sunshine on your face.
Set Boundaries With Your Work And Personal Life
When it comes to maintaining a healthy work-life balance, one of the best things you can do is set boundaries. This means having a set schedule for work, personal time and family time–and making sure that these three areas don’t bleed into each other. You might be surprised at how much more productive you are when you know exactly how much time each category requires.
Another important step by Dr John Manzella is making sure that you have enough time for sleep and exercise (even if it’s just walking around the block). It’s better to get up early than stay up late because if this happens too often over an extended period of time then eventually burnout will occur due to lack of sleep/exercise causing health issues such as heart problems etcetera.
Get Support From Others In Your Career And Life
A support network is a group of people who are there for you when times get tough. It can be your spouse, friends, family members, or even your colleagues at work. The important thing is that they have your back–and you have theirs!
When building a support network, it’s important to make sure that the people in it are committed to being there for you: they should understand what burnout looks like and how it affects physicians’ lives; respect your desire for balance between work and personal life; and be willing to provide practical advice on how best to achieve this balance. They should also offer emotional support when necessary (which will probably happen).
Hopefully that these burnout-prevention tips from Dr. Manzella helps you in a way. In the midst of work-related stress, don’t neglect yourself and your loved ones! Reach out if you need resources or just want to talk about home or work. If you’ve reached this point in the article, you’re on the correct track. Make and follow a plan!
