FEELING BURNT OUT?

It was around 6:45pm and I was already running late for the meeting. As I sat in the vehicle, I began to recall all that happened transpired earlier in the day. Well, it was a long day and my body was asking for rest already. It was a usual Monday after work rush hour and the traffic was not easy on us. Looking into the rare mirror, I realized how exhausted I was. During the previous night, I could not get enough rest due to the extended time I spent on a book I am writing. My energy level was crying for a recharge and the burden of responsibility was heavy on my shoulders concurrently.

You can see this guy is tired even by mere observing his looks and yes, truly I was. But, was all that worth the while? Everyone gets burnt out at some point in life. Whether you are a parent, a spouse, a leader, a CEO of a company, even students, we all at one point get burnt out.

In today's article, I want us to look out how to recognize situations that can lead to burning out, especially as a health professional.

As health workers, we have a crucial role to play in the society in ensuring that the people live their lives optimally. However, often times we have heard of industrious medics et al who have met their untimely death in the discourse of their duty and later examination reveal hidden health issues left unattended to. Yesterday, a good friend of mine requested to see my schedule and she was surprised at how congested my routine is. She demanded an instant re-adjustment and requested that I should include enough time for rest in between closing from the office at 4pm to seeing clients in their homes at 6:30pm. I think it was a reasonable suggestion to use that time to have some rest.

"Doc, please if you are tired, take some rest". This is a message to you my hardworking doctor. We need your skills and expertise so take good care of your health. Do not overwork yourself and take time for other equally important things in life such as family, friends, hobbies etc. If you're working in a high-pressure environment, you need to put extra measures in place not to over-exert your health. Emotional exhaustion is as damaging as physical exhaustion.

Our world is not a perfect one, so there could be other factors beyond your control that may predispose you to a condition of frustration and helplessness but then remember that the moment you drop dead, another will quickly take your place so I'm pleading with you, let your health be your concern. Regulate the things you continuously feed on. When you hear too many a traumatic stories, it has the tendency to impact your mental health negatively. Find a place where you can detox from negative influx.

This particular article brings to remembrance the experience I had while working as a volunteer in a rehabilitation clinic in India. Although, I enjoyed working with the team and the clients, there were little things as under-appreciation which began to have a negative toll on my health. I want to highlight five classical symptoms that shows that you are burnt out.

1. You feel drained emotionally and physically, with a sense of being unable to face the demands of work.
2. You develop a cynical attitude and negative feelings towards patients or colleagues, leading to a sense of detachment.
3. You experience a decline in feelings of competence and successful achievement in your work with a diminished sense of personal accomplishment.
4. You suffer from chronic fatigue that that impacts your overall well-being.
5. You experience difficulty concentrating and there's usually a decline in your cognitive ability.

To wrap this up, I want to suggest four techniques you and I can put in place to regulate our mental and physical health to prevent or manage situations that could lead to being burnt out.

1. When you are not on a shift, please make time to rest. Also, take proper care of your diet and exercise regularly. Ironically, some of the most lazy individuals I know who have never exercised as much as I'm aware are my health professional friends. They give the best advice, yet they would not put their hands to the plough. If you are like that, repent. Lol.
2. Sir, you are not the Savior of the universe. Set clear boundaries between work and personal life and learn to say no when necessary to prevent over commitment. Me, I've said my own o..
3. Find something interesting that can become a routine to ease the pressure and stress. It could be anything you enjoy doing. Make good use of that leisure and enjoy life.
4. Learn how to take regular breaks at work, even short ones during demanding shifts as this helps you to refresh the mind and prevent burnout.Find out what works for you and do it religiously. I want to see us live happier and healthier lives to make a maximum impact on the people entrusted in our care. Thank you for reading!Let's connect on my socials: Instagram Youtube