Physicians play a crucial role in society. Those in this venerable profession are responsible for maintaining the general health of their communities, and those that live therein. Such heavy responsibilities can, however, exact an equally heavy toll on one’s mental wellbeing. This toll can lead to difficulties in performing these duties optimally – and eventually to burnout.

Burnout refers to a type of stress that occurs as a side effect of work. not only is it a state of physical and mental exhaustion, it also leads to a sense of reduced accomplishment in one’s work, depression and even a loss of personal identity. The medical profession has, unfortunately, felt the brunt of this phenomenon in recent times – likely a result of having to work during a deadly, global pandemic.

Identification

The first thing to know about burnout is that it does not differentiate between its targets. From medical school students to well-respected physicians nearing the twilight of their career – it can happen to anyone. In light of this fact, the first step to being able to identify burnout is to know the symptoms. Signs to look out for include the following:

• A constant negative outlook
• Feeling emotionally and physically drained
• A loss of urgency regarding responsibilities
• Changes in appetite or sleep patterns
• Not coming to or leaving work on time
• Procrastination
• Isolating yourself from colleagues
• Feelings of dissatisfaction
• Impatience when dealing with colleagues and/or patients

Prevention

While there are ways to manage symptoms while continuing to operate at or near peak efficiency, it is best, as with any ailment, to identify and prevent burnout as early as possible. The following strategies will help with this:

Knowing your limits

Burnout is often the result of an individual taking on more work than they can handle. It is important for all medical staff to set boundaries with regards to their work and responsibilities, and to not be afraid to delegate if they feel it is necessary. Physicians, in particular, should focus their time and energy on direct patient interaction, leaving other responsibilities to administrative and management staff.

Maintaining a healthy work-life balance

Work is important, especially for those in the medical profession. However, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and carving out time to spend on recreation and personal enjoyment, is just as important. Some “me-time” after a long and hard week at work could be just what is needed to relax and recharge.

Dependable practice management support

Practice management systems play a crucial role in preventing physician burnout; through automation of day-to-day processes, these systems help alleviate a large portion of the administrative burden that is placed on physicians, allowing them to allocate more of their time and energy to patient care.