Burnout is a very serious and realistic occurrence that happens to a variety of people who work as healthcare professionals. Studies have taken place that show that there is currently a 35.2% burnout rate amongst physicians working in the U.S. The truth is, many people feel as if they are having a bad day in the healthcare workplace, or feel as if they are not appreciated. They attempt to balance work and home life to no avail, because working in healthcare can be mentally and physically draining and it’s hard to find the extra time for anything. Burnout on the job is more than simple exhaustion – it keeps you from every element of your life and makes it difficult for you to manage anything other than your career. However, there is recovery from severe burnout, you just need to be able to differentiate between burnout and a few bad days to receive the help you deserve. Learning the signs of emotional exhaustion and managing your stressful job will put you on the road to recovery.
How Prevalent is Burnout?
Because workplace stress happens on a daily basis for those working in a fast-paced workplace like a healthcare facility, it is no wonder that so many professionals are experiencing job stress and emotionally drained symptoms that have a huge, lasting impact on their life for months to years. It seems to affect those who are younger on a huge scale. In fact, according to statistics, physicians who are younger than 35 have a burnout rate of 44%, which is steadily increasing as we manage stress less and less within our daily lives, and put our jobs first. Medical students are at one of the highest risks for depression out of every career option. Medical students may experience depression 30% times more harshly than those choosing any other career path. Physicians are almost two times more likely to report that they are dissatisfied with their career than any other option, and they also have the highest divorce rate among professions.
So what are we doing about our health when workplace stress hits home? Stress causes 1 million employees to miss work each day. 2/3 men and women say that work has had an impact on their stress level, and 1 in 4of these employees have chosen to call in with a “mental health day” as a result of severe workplace stress. The truth is, taking time off when you experience burnout can save your life as well as keep you feeling refreshed for your next day at work. Every professional is entitled to some time to themselves.
It helps to become knowledgeable of the symptoms of burnout. If you are feeling tired and drained all the time, withdraw from all of your responsibilities, have a sense of failure or self-doubt, or feel detached from the rest of the world, it may be time to take a break to get back on track. Don’t let the symptoms of burnout get you down and keep you down.
