Burnout is a point of exhaustion felt by many professionals during their careers, especially those in the healthcare industry. By spotting this early on, you can help avoid some of the negative effects of burnout and the toll it takes on your mental and physical health. However, many do not know the signs to look for, as they were not taught just how common burnout is in one’s career.

What Are the Signs of Burnout?

In order to be able to prevent burnout in the healthcare profession, it is first important to be able to recognize it for what it is. Burnout can be especially difficult to spot for those who already suffer from general anxiety or stress, which is why it is crucial to pay attention to your wellbeing. When one is growing close to burnout, they will often begin suffering from chronic fatigue that lasts for weeks, a pessimistic attitude, irritability, a decreased work performance and other factors. In the healthcare profession specifically, some signs of burnout may also look like resenting your clients, being late to appointments and more.

How Can Healthcare Professionals Prevent Burnout?

Given the negative effects that burnout can have on one’s well being and their regular job duties, it is imperative that healthcare professionals do all they can to prevent burnout. One proven way to do this is by surrounding yourself with a support system. Many healthcare professionals end up suffering from anxiety and other negative emotions because they are not prepared to deal with some of the situations they see on a daily basis. This is why it is important to make connections with individuals who understand your emotions and can encourage you. Some even prevent burnout by going to regular therapy, which can teach you how to deal with your stressors and prevent this negative mindset.

Another way to prevent burnout is by taking care of your physical health. It might seem impossible to do when you’re working a busy schedule and picking up shifts, but even taking 20 to 30 minutes to take a fast-paced walk during the day can boost your emotional state and give your body the activity it needs. Preparing healthy meals for yourself and trying to develop somewhat of a healthy sleep routine will also help you prevent some of burnout’s worst effects.

In addition to these efforts, it is also important that you learn when to say no. With staffing shortages in an essential industry like healthcare, it can seem extremely selfish and even impossible to say no picking up additional shifts. But if you are constantly overworked, you’ll find it difficult to perform at your best during the shifts you were originally scheduled for. It is honorable to want to help others out, but make sure you also know when to decline shifts when you feel the signs of burnout creeping in.