How I am recovering from burnout

❓ Can you overcome burnout?

🤷🏼‍♂️ I've researched the topic of burnout among healthcare workers extensively. But this question is generally unanswered.

📚 There are excellent studies on the prevalence of burnout, depression, suicide, etc.

🏢 Articles abound that detail necessary steps ORGANIZATIONS must take to reduce burnout in their coworkers.

🙍🏼‍♂️But what about the solitary individual, a burned-out person? What can she/he do to recover?

😞Is it hopeless? Un-recoverable?

My desperate search was selfish. I needed to know--can I come back from burnout?

🔎Since I could not find answers in the literature, I had to find my own way.

I had to survive.

So, here are 14 things I have done (or stopped doing) in the last 8 months to claw my way back from burnout.

They are descriptive. These things helped me. They might not help you.

Number 7 is embarrassing:

⚖️1. I adjusted my expectations of myself. The most important one, by far.

🙆🏼‍♂️2. I gave attention to my nervous system (I educated myself, then started new practices). Sukie Baxter was a huge help.

🎯3. I decreased my focus and intensity at work. (What's the opposite of working harder? Working lighter? Working softer?)

🧘🏼‍♂️4. I meditated with the use of Kristen Riecke's Peloton app.

📃5. I made a bucket list and started checking off items. Ben Nemtin changed my life.

💺6. I took time off and made a plan with my doctor.

🚽7. I stopped checking emails on the toilet. (This one is still hard to practice, ngl. Kind of embarrassing and gross.)

🌍8. I adjusted my worldview (again).

📒9. I journaled events, thoughts, and feelings.

🧱10. I drew boundaries and eliminated/limited energy suckers (aka, I said "no" and unfriended some people on social media👋🏼).

🧭11. I performed self-discovery (there were personality-specific reasons why the situations bothered me so much).

🫧12. I found a literal safe space--a physical bubble where I could retreat and be free.

⌚13. I used the mantra "Things can change at any moment."

💞14. I confided in exactly three trusted people (in addition to my doctor and counselor): Kristen Riecke, Jana Vastbinder, and Jon Swanson.

What is on your list? Comment below:

#selfhelp #personaldevelopment #mindfulness #humanresources #healthcare #mentalhealth #depressionawareness