Burnout How to Cope

The WHO defines Burnout as a syndrome characterized by chronic occupational stress. It is not a medical condition but an occupational one.

The signs are all there – You get to work exhausted, you find it hard to relate with co-workers, you flare up at the slightest provocation, you find it hard to make any definite decision, and are either carefree or forgetful – it’s no fault of yours, you’re witnessing a burnout.

Doctors Also get Burned Out.

This is easy to spot: The doctor breezes through the cases he has to see, doing the absolute minimum he needs to get the job done, questions are not encouraged and there are no smiles. Procedures are done with little empathy toward the patient going through pain. You snap at nurses when they remind you there is another patient you have to see.

In a Doctor’s case, irritability is defined as disagreeing with more than one nurse every 24 hours.

There are also feelings of regret when one remembers past errors and feelings of guilt when one wants to take time off.

Causes of Burnout.

Inadequate income
Workload
Tiring co-workers
Poor working environment
A lack of motivation
Outside work relationships

Effects of being Burned out

These include
Depression
Guilt
Insomnia
Stress
Reduced Libido
Alcoholism and substance abuse,

Managing Burnout.

Take Holidays
Develop a hobby
Learn new professional skills
Consider early retirement
Seek professional help.
Talk to others that have faced the same challenges.

How do you cope when you feel burned out?