Being a doctor is a rewarding profession; however, it is also a very demanding one. The burnout rate in the field is very high as stress takes its toll. If you are a doctor and feel in low spirits, you might be burnt out or on the road to it. Here are four valuable tips to help you get back into top form Fitness Reserve.
Four Tips to Avoid Burnout as a Doctor
Get some exercise
A surprising move to relieve stress is starting an exercise regimen. Many doctors stop exercising when they have a lot on their minds. However, that is a wrong move. Exercise is beneficial when it comes to fighting stress. While burnout is more of mental exhaustion, with exercise, your mind focuses on physical effort. It also helps release a variety of hormones and endorphins into your body. You will find that while physically exhausting, exercise is mentally refreshing.
Rest is important
Another contributor to burnout with medical jobs is the long hours. Shifts are also irregular, which can make it difficult to sleep. In addition, some emergencies disrupt the regular sleep periods. The lack of sleep piles up and slowly affects your mental state. Avoid this situation by being strict about your sleeping schedules. Have a hard limit to how much overtime you can and will do. When you reach it, you can tell your supervisor that you can’t work and need a solid chunk of rest. Ensuring that you have a stable sleeping time will prevent any issues you might come up with.
Streamline your tasks
There is a lot of work on any doctor’s plate. It can end up being too much making you inefficient. The best way to resolve this issue is to start streamlining your tasks. For example, if there are tools that you can use or assistants you can call on, you should do so. Don’t be so arrogant that you need to do everything yourself. Reduce the number of tasks you handle to focus on the more important things.
Change your workload
An interesting move would be to change your workload radically. A lot of burnout comes from the work you are doing. Changing the situation can reduce your stress levels. For example, if you work in a particular clinic or hospital, you might look into taking locum tenens jobs instead. These are temporary contracts in which you substitute for other doctors or a short-term position. They are less stressful than regular doctor positions and often pay higher. Additionally, locus tenens companies usually handle the paperwork and office work a doctor usually carries out on top of their usual work. You can then focus on the medical side of things.
Final thoughts
Fighting burnout is essentially about lowering the amount of stress you are facing. The tips above should help a lot with that goal. Medicine is a great field that contributes a lot to society while also fulfilling. With the right approach, you should be able to have a long career in the medical industry.