So, what does the term burnout mean? Well, in a professional context, it’s when you’re pushed to your limits and feel like you have nothing left to give. Because of excessive and prolonged periods of stress, you find yourself in a state of absolute mental, physical and emotional exhaustion. What’s more, it’s not uncommon to lose enthusiasm in your work and feel resentful towards day-to-day tasks.
Professional burnout is common among Practice Managers in the health industry. Long hours, pressures to accommodate patients and staff, a lack of resources, as well as conflict between family and career commitments are all common contributing factors.
But working in a medical practice has the potential to be an incredibly rewarding career. This is why it’s so important you don’t let burnout extinguish the passion that attracted you to the profession in the first place. To help prevent or recover from burnout, try integrating the steps below into your lifestyle.
1. Open communication
If the expectations placed on you at work are becoming overwhelming or you feel like you’re always playing catch-up, it’s important to have an honest conversation with the powers that be, as well as colleagues who may able to assist. This way, you can work together to find solutions to the situation – before problems arise or you end up completely running yourself into the ground.
It’s also important to have regular contact with counterparts from other practices. Being able to contact them for advice about difficult issues, is invaluable and provides you with a support network.
2. Working as a team
Even if it feels like it sometimes, you shouldn’t be expected to do it all – so, sometimes it’s necessary to delegate certain duties to staff members who have the capacity and appropriate skillsets. If something occurs that impacts the way your practice is run, like new government regulations, it’s important to discuss the potential stresses this could add to your team and how to minimise them.
3. Employ automation tools
Automating reoccurring tasks can greatly decrease the pressure associated with the day-to-day running of a practice. There are a multitude of time-saving tools in the market for a range of different purposes, including automated recalls, feedback, emails and more.
4. ‘You’ time
Allow yourself a few minutes each morning to do something that calms you and makes you happy. This could be light exercise, meditation, stretching or just reading. You might have a hobby that you can put this time towards. Allowing yourself these moments can help put you in a positive and productive mind-set for the rest of the day.
5. Healthy living
Long days, stressful situations, and a general lack of time means working hard can be hard on your health. That’s why it’s vital you incorporate healthy sleeping, eating and exercise habits into your everyday routine. This will increase your energy levels, as well as improve your moods and outlook while at work.
6. Saying “no”
It isn’t always easy, but it’s important to say “no” when it comes to overextending yourself. Late nights and early mornings mean less downtime and less time with family and friends. Over time, this can be to the detriment of your health and wellbeing, both personally and professionally. So, learn to say “no” – it can have a hugely positive impact on your life.
7. What gets you up in the morning
When you’re quite a few years into your career, it can be easy to forget why you were originally drawn to the profession of Practice Management. But reconnecting with that passion and enthusiasm can be rejuvenating. One way to do this, is to shift your focus from what may have gone wrong, to the wins you achieve throughout the day. You might be surprised how they add up and how good that makes you feel.
8. Be self-aware
Self-awareness is key to minimising your risk of burnout. By being able to acknowledge how you are feeling and identify when you may be faltering will allow you take the right course of action.
