Patients depend on your assessments and opinions, staff members depend on your decisions, and family members depend on you for support in a variety of ways. Though you may be carrying the weight of many, and think of yourself as strong, there comes a point of overload.
Turns out the last straw related to burnout for physicians and nurses often comes from outside of work. You’ve spent years honing your skills for work and while the system is changing there is much that stays the same regarding patient care itself. Your life outside of work may be less predictable. Family strife, the challenging adolescent years of children, elderly parents, changes in the workload of a spouse, etc may all tip the delicate balance you’ve had. Your experience of burnout is revealed.
Burnout shows up as a loss of interest and enthusiasm, depersonalization and low self-value. You may have been experiencing these over a period of time and been able to keep them at bay until that last straw comes and causes a crash. While it feels bad and is uncomfortable there is opportunity here.
Though you may be feeling drained and as if you can’t see beyond the day-to-day current circumstances, you know there is an alternative. As you know there are alternatives for your patients, so too you know there is an alternative for you. Being part of a group of people who are dealing with the same problem or have dealt with a similar situation can be inspiring, offering hope and guidance.
The mastermind group Rx for Physician Happiness was designed for you. You need not despair. If you have an inkling that your life can be better, join Rx for Physician Happiness, by signing up with the form on the bottom of the page.
What’s one thing you can do that would lead to your increased happiness? Let us know by clicking the text bubble at the top of the blog post.
Revitalize Your Life,
Dina, 203.744.YOU3 (9683)
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