"I feel like no one understands…" This refrain may sound familiar when experiencing burnout.
When it seems like everything is going wrong, every small inconvenience, stumble, or frustration can feel like a travesty. It may seem like no one is listening or willing to help. When I was feeling burned out, the only path forward seemed like a path out of my role. At every turn, I found a problem with the processes and felt like no one cared about what the physicians needed. There were many nights when I just did not want to show up to work. I had to make a decision: continue to be miserable, find a new employer, or make a change within my role. During this time, I often questioned whether I should even continue in clinical medicine. Ultimately, I decided that I wanted to stay in clinical medicine but needed to figure out how.
Part of my challenge was the stress at home. This was happening at a time when several family members had health crises, and my husband and I were trying to manage their health, raise small children, and show up every day to jobs that we cared about.
I needed a pathway forward.
At the time, I did not have a clear path. I chose to focus first on myself. I spent time caring for my physical and mental health. I removed obstacles to exercise and prioritized my well-being. This helped a lot, and I was able to be open to other changes. The tools I learned over the years, I wish I had internalized more quickly.
Three Things I Wish I Had Done Sooner:
Appreciate What Is Going Well: Take a few moments to appreciate what is going well. This may mean appreciating a person—someone who helped you, who went above and beyond, or who took a moment to listen. Maybe you appreciate that a new process went well and made your day a little better. When we stop complaining and take a few minutes to appreciate, it allows our outlook to shift.
Learn More About the Processes That Bother You: Some tasks feel endlessly daunting until you learn the tricks! New technology, resources, and built-in calendar tools have made my life easier. This is true of many things, particularly when software-related.
Make Recommendations for Improvement: When you are part of the solution, it can be beneficial in a few ways. You can demonstrate your own commitment to improvement. You may be viewed as a part of the solution instead of adding to the noise. This also allows you to feel like part of the solution and work to make things better.
I will never say that it is up to the individual to make everything better. However, we can do things to help us thrive even in imperfect situations.
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