Well, I thought it was about time I put fingers to the keyboard and launch into the topic of Burn Out. I am in the Health Industry and I have to say that if you were looking for a place to find ‘Burn Out,’ you would easily find it in this environment.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to hammer the Health Industry as a miserable, miserly employer that demands so much and pays the bare minimum (?) after all this isn’t what it is all about for some of us. No, I want to address the issue of Burn Out in the workplace and ask myself and you…do you ever think about it, should you think about it and why?

I believe anyone working within the staff-client/patient relationship that is focused around finding solutions and solving problems for the client is often at the center of emotional or stressful situations. These situations become increasingly challenging when there may be no solution and the situation becomes a life-changing event. In these moments, we may shoulder these challenges while allowing the client and their families adjust. This may be for brief moments or it can continue throughout that clients/patients episode of care or length of stay. Or, you may work in acute areas that require constant high levels of technical and decision-making skills.

Now I don’t want to get caught up trying to explain the obvious to people who already understand, I am just asking the question about do you ever think of the effects of stress from work on you? Probably not!

The answer is not simply ‘changing your job,’ especially when you like it and are good at it but we need to create some awareness around “Burnout” that will result in stress management and stress relief for you.

There are several phases to the ‘Burnout Process’ and psychologists Freudenberger and North have theorized 12. These phases are in no particular order and I will mention a few of the common ones

• The Compulsion to Prove Oneself. This is so true in our stressful professional environment.

• Working Harder. This can be working harder to fit into an organization that demands higher and higher standards of quality care.

• Neglecting Their/Ones Needs. This is where work/life balance evaporates.

• Withdrawal. Moving from social contact to alcohol, food or sex as substitutes and outlets.

• Obvious Behavioral Changes. These are so obvious that everyone sees them except you.

• I’ll run some together Depersonalization, Inner Emptiness, Depression and Burnout Syndrome.

I know I am thinking about myself, are you thinking about yourself? It is so easy to fall into the trap of “Burnout” by simply not being aware of it and therefore not acting against it.

Over the next few weeks, I look forward to sourcing and sharing with you appropriate high quality techniques and activities that relate to stress management and stress relief which will truly assist you, the time poor Health employee, create a ‘space’ where you can regain focus, energy and passion