The first step to overcoming burnout
Burnout Newsletter
Ever had a heart-to-heart with a friend about burnout? It's like peering into a mirror reflecting back your own struggles. I recently had one of these conversations with a friend, and what struck me was how she couldn't even see the burnout looming over her.
Isn't it ironic?
It's a bizarre paradox, isn't it? When we're on the brink of burnout, instead of hitting the brakes, we press harder on the accelerator, hoping sheer momentum will carry us through. We dive headfirst into our tasks, convinced that if we just work a little harder, we'll break through to the other side.
That's the sound of inevitability
It's a scenario so common, it's practically a cliché. We casually toss around phrases like "I'm so burned out." But beneath the jokes lies a harsh truth: burnout is real, and it's gnawing away at our well-being.
It doesn't stop there
Even worse, burnout doesn't just impact the coworker. It affects teams and organizations, hindering progress towards important missions.
The simplest way to explain it? I have problems.
Recovery begins with a stark admission: "I am not okay." It's about acknowledging that something is fundamentally off-kilter, whether it's a sudden indifference towards work, a bone-deep weariness that refuses to lift, or a creeping sense of insignificance in the workplace.
These are the warning signs of burnout, flashing neon signals we can't afford to ignore.
I'm looking at the man in the mirror
I've been there, convincing myself that if I just kept up the facade of "having it all together," everything would magically fall into place. But it was a dangerous game, and I paid the price when I slammed into a second wall – AFib and depression.
It took hitting rock bottom for me to finally confront the truth.
Articles
The impact of the pandemic on leaders: A pathway to healing and self-care
Nurse Management magazine
This article highlights the lack of research on the impact of burnout on nurse leaders, and offers a unique four-step process that leaders can use to provide self-care (instead of ONLY telling them that burnout is their fault).
A national study of moral distress among U.S. internal medicine physicians
PLOS ONE
Perceived organizational support is the primary mitigator of burnout at work. This study demonstrates that physicians' perception of their organizations' support was just as important as having PPE during the pandemic. We can't control the supply chain, but we can control how much those around us feel supported.
Featured Resource:
New Instagram Profile
Dedicated to Overcoming and Avoiding Burnout
Check it out today!
