Dealing with Professional Burnout
<p>Experiencing lockdown has perhaps been one of the most trying times in our lives recently, and more so if you’re a healthcare professional and on the frontlines. Medical workers have a term for times like these: <a href="https://www.trueprofile.io/member/resources/healthcare-professionals-toxic-stress" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">toxic</a>. There are days when it takes all of your effort to even get out of bed, and you just wish that five minutes of snoozing can equate to a good night’s sleep. Burnout is not just getting overwhelmed with all that’s going on around you, the WHO has classified burnout as an <a href="https://www.who.int/mental_health/evidence/burn-out/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">occupational phenomenon</a>. Let’s take a step back to help you deal with a professional burnout get back your motivation and inner drive.</p> <h2>Pause and breathe</h2> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="563" src="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/shutterstock_1363683965-1.jpg" alt="Dealing with Professional Burnout" class="wp-image-10661" title="Dealing with Professional Burnout" srcset="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/shutterstock_1363683965-1.jpg 1000w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/shutterstock_1363683965-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/shutterstock_1363683965-1-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure> <p>With the pandemic still raging in some parts of the world, you might feel that this is not the best time to take a break. Well, you can’t help others if you’re breaking down as well. Just as airline safety videos tell us to put on our masks first, before helping others, you also need to put your mental health first, before helping your patients or colleagues. <a href="https://qz.com/work/1640624/a-psychotherapist-explains-how-to-deal-with-burnout-symptoms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Take some time for yourself</a> and it might just be what you need to re-energize.</p> <h2>Get back to basics</h2> <p>Do you have <a href="https://www.trueprofile.io/member/resources/create-life-goals" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">goals in life</a>? What did you set out to do, for yourself, and for your loved ones? The thought of reaching your goals can get lost when you’re experiencing burnout. If these are too ephemeral for you, try breaking them down into small, easily digestible achievements. Work on one small thing at a time and you’ll find that you’ll have accomplished a lot more than you thought you could’ve.</p> <h2>Talk it out or write it down</h2> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/shutterstock_1216162909-1.jpg" alt="Dealing with Professional Burnout" class="wp-image-10662" title="Burnout discovering inner drive" srcset="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/shutterstock_1216162909-1.jpg 1000w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/shutterstock_1216162909-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/shutterstock_1216162909-1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>A sounding board may just be what you need.</figcaption></figure> <p>Verbalizing what you’re going through may be just what you need. Reach out to a friend or a colleague and let them be your sounding board. A different perspective can be a breath of fresh air and it may get you out of your funk. If you feel that your thoughts are too muddled, try <a href="https://www.trueprofile.io/member/resources/writing-a-journal-can-help-you-cope-with-stress" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">writing them down first</a>.</p> <h2>Change your environment</h2> <p>If your <a href="https://www.thebalancecareers.com/how-to-deal-with-work-burnout-4142144" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work is the cause of your burnout</a>, see if you can change your set of responsibilities, or your account, or transfer to a different area. Reach out to your manager and open up about your need for a change. Of course, changing your job is also an option, and you can use this as an opportunity to move up or move abroad. As a TrueProfile.io Member, you have the benefit of getting contacted by recruiters and employers by indicating your preference on your <a href="https://www.trueprofile.io/member/resources/update-your-contact-settings-and-unlock-career-opportunities" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Profile Visibility preferences</a>. Don’t hesitate to move out of a toxic environment if it’s causing you too much stress.</p> <p>There are many ways to deal with a burnout, what&#8217;s best is to try different methods and find what works best for you.</p> <h3>Make the most of your career when you sign up with <a href="http://trueprofile.io/member/register" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TrueProfile.io</a>!</h3> <div class="is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons"> <div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link has-text-color has-background" href="http://trueprofile.io/member/register" style="border-radius:50px;background-color:#00497a;color:#f5f5f5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sign up now</a></div> </div>