Burnout is something that is affecting doctors on a global scale. Due to the health and social care industry being one where the emotions and wellbeing of others overtake the individual needs of those working within this industry it can lead to exhaustion and feeling emotionally drained. When left untreated this causes burnout to appear.
What is burnout and how to look out for it?
Burnout is the result of consistent work-related stress that forms when this stress is left untreated, causing physical and mental exhaustion. When left untreated it can start to affect not only your work environment but your home life as well.
Some of the most common symptoms of burnout that you can look out for are:
- Procrastination
- Feeling overwhelmed
- High levels of exhaustion
- Constantly feeling drained
- Consistent negative outlook on life
- Trouble sleeping
- Irritable
- Restless
- Frequent illnesses
- Low self-esteem
Everyone at some point will experience burnout, however burnout is a recurring issue for most working in the health and social care industry, due to the fast-paced working environment, busy days and emotional intensity to name a few. Burnout can be especially hard to treat when working in the health and social care industry especially since the lack of workers and resources currently available, feeling as if there isn't a real moment of rest which can cause burnout to become more severe. It's important to note that no matter what industry you work in burnout doesn't just disappear overnight, in fact it can take weeks, months and even years until the symptoms of burnout are minimised or have disappeared completely.
Unresolved burnout can cause many issues within the health and social care industry such as poor quality of care and mistakes being made. In order to ensure this does not become an ongoing issue you or someone you know must first learn what burnout is, be able to identify it and finally learn recovery methods that work for you or them.
How can you or someone you know recover from burnout when working within the health and social care industry?
Some ways that people have found useful when acknowledging and healing from burnout is to prioritise rest, take some time off to spend with just yourself and focus only on resting your mind and body.
Turn off your phone/stop checking social media and other forms of communication unless essential. Constantly being on your phone and scrolling through social media keeps your mind on high alert, especially if looking at topics that cause anxiety, high levels of stress and sadness. It's okay to take a break, it's essential in order to continue functioning well in everyday life.
Focus on what's important to you and limit what is not. Constantly focusing on the negatives of life means that, that's all you will begin to see. It's simple but often overlooked. Start asking yourself questions such as, how can I make today special? What is something I have done in my life recently that I am proud of? If I could change one thing about my life to improve it, what would it be and how can I do this? What's something that makes me happy?
Don't forget the basics such as, am I sleeping and eating enough?
By making the above a priority it will allow you to continue to do what you love without added stress and pressure.
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