Top 10: Battling Burnout

Over the last 3 years, at least 75% of health care executives have cited feeling burnt out.

Countless mentions of burnout on the front-lines of healthcare have frequented media sources far and wide.

The reality is that we are all at risk and most have experienced burnout.

In this guide, I offer some of my own learnings from battling burnout many times over.

I share some things that have worked for me, and my thinking on what has caused me to worsen my symptoms.

This journey is very personal.

I try to be open and acknowledge when and where it's happening to me in order to communicate openly with my leadership team and encourage the same from them. That confidence has come with experience and wins and losses when it comes to facing burnout.

This guide really just focuses on the key aspects of prevention and recovery for yourself, but you may use it to help facilitate conversations with your team, too. These principles are applicable in all walks of life.

What is burnout?

Burnout is physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion. It's a feeling that you just cannot give any more. It's cynicism and detachment, and it's questioning yourself and your effectiveness.

Burnout is not the same as stress, although they can go hand-in-hand. It is not depression, but it can certainly lead to that.

Most importantly, burnout is not weakness or an admission of guilt.

I hope the key points of this Top 10 encourage you, engage you to think about how to invest in your own wellbeing, and give you some reassurance that you are not alone in this experience that comes with highly important and committed work.