We spent a weekend with friends a few months ago when burnout came up. Specifically, one of our friends had recently attended a conference during which one of her course instructors discussed ways to avoid burnout in her profession. My friend relaying this to us led to a lively exchange of our thoughts on the topic and an idea.
Feeling the burn
I’m seeing more articles about burnout among health care professionals in my inbox. It seems to be an especially hot topic since COVID-19. Headlines, such as “Burnout is rampant among female health care workers” and “A Treatment for America’s Healthcare Worker Burnout” pop up on any given Google search. What’s more, Forbes has dedicated several columns to the topic. (An example can be found here: bit.ly/Forbes BurnoutColumn.)
Further, a July 2022 Bain & Company US Frontline of Healthcare Survey reveals that 25% of clinicians are considering switching careers, primarily due to burnout.
I also see more conversations about burnout and general unhappiness with our profession on social media forums. Some dissatisfaction could be related to location, hours worked, or co-workers. (If this sounds like you, I urge you to consider a different practice setting.) However, some may genuinely suffer from the mental fatigue of dealing with patients every day. I know I certainly can be exhausted at the end of the workday.
Beating burnout
So, I asked my friend what her course instructor recommended to combat burnout. She mentioned meditation, exercise, vacations, and sleep. The idea that struck a chord with me: Pay more attention to the creative part of one’s brain. In other words, spend time on hobbies that enrich one’s life. Think of it this way: What would you put on a business card that stated your interests outside your profession?
A recent conversation with my husband proved the power of paying more attention to the creative part of one’s brain. “You can’t retire. You need to keep working to pay for my hobbies,” he said. These include mixology, piloting, timber framing, cycling, and skiing.
Giving it a try
Over the weekend mentioned above, the four of us had fun thinking of things to add to our business cards. And, we learned that, over time, the interests on our cards can change. I’m no longer a “Taxi Driver for Kids” or a “Singer.” Currently, mine include: “Reader.” “Writer.” “Motivational Speaker.” “Exercise Enthusiast.” “Aspiring Master Gardener.” “Chef for Friends and Family.” “Traveler.” “Delta Million Miler.” “Hotel Snob.” “Part-Time Cocktail Waitress.” “Dog Mom.” “Volunteer.” “Optometric Lobbyist.” “Music Aficionado.” “Household Chief Technology Officer.” “Swiftie.”
My friend who started that conversation about burnout recently called me. She said she was having a fashion show to celebrate Mother’s Day at her gift shop/speak-easy and needed models. I complained that I didn’t want to be a model. In the end, I relented. I commented on the things we do for friends. She answered, “Add ‘Model’ to your business card.” Touché. What’s on your business card? OM
