Part 2: How Professionals Can Avoid Burnout
Doctors, lawyers, and others in professional industries are often “assumed” to be superhuman. Granted, people don’t actually think that, but most people also don’t think about their doctor struggling with depression or their attorney dealing with anxiety. However, it happens.
If you’re a professional of any kind, you likely know all too well how easy it is to struggle with stress and experience burnout. Unfortunately, that can put you at serious risk of developing other mental health conditions or wreaking havoc on your physical well-being.
So, what can you do to avoid burnout? How can you maintain your professional life while finding time to de-stress and foster a healthy work-life balance?
Practice Self-Care
Before skipping this step because you’ve “heard it before,” consider why it’s so important. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and you can’t be expected to serve others effectively if you’re not taking care of yourself first. Self-care isn’t selfish. It’s essential, especially for those in professional settings.
Self-care has gotten a bit stereotyped over the last few years as it’s become more of a buzzword, but it doesn’t have to include anything too extreme or luxurious. Instead, you should focus on doing something every day that promotes your mental wellness, including:
Exercising
Eating a nutritious diet
Socializing
Journaling
Meditating
Self-care looks different for everyone, so don’t be afraid to try different things to find what relaxes you and keeps you from burning out.
Understand Your Professional Triggers
It’s estimated that 83% of American workers struggle with job-related stress. That covers a variety of industries, of course, but those in professional settings certainly aren’t immune to that kind of stress, especially when you have a fast-paced, high-stakes career.
You might not be able to avoid certain aspects of your job that cause stress. However, if you have professional “triggers,” you can work to understand them and reduce your exposure to them each day. Do you have a hard time saying “no” to people, and your schedule gets overloaded as a result? If so, understanding that can help you to set healthier boundaries. Maybe people pile work on you without asking. Or, maybe your expectations for yourself are too high because you’re a perfectionist.
It’s not always easy to recognize these things. However, consider taking a step back and shifting your perspective. When you understand what’s triggering the bulk or your burnout, you’re more likely to take positive steps toward avoiding it.
Foster a Healthy Work-Life Balance
When you work in a demanding career, you might sometimes feel like you have to sacrifice your personal life. Unfortunately, that will cause you to burn out quickly. Not only will it impact your mental health, but it can cause you to lose focus at work. You might even start to resent your career.
You can avoid this by prioritizing a healthy work-life balance. Set boundaries with your working hours each week, and don’t bring work home with you. Allow yourself more flexibility, or ask for it from your employer or supervisor. That might include working from home some days, extended vacations, or fewer shifts.
Your life shouldn’t consist only of work. If you let your career take over everything, you’ll lose your sense of purpose quickly and become exhausted. As a professional, it can be easier said than done to avoid burnout. These ideas can help you get started, but if you’re already struggling with your mental well-being, don’t hesitate to reach out for help.
Talking to a therapist or counselor is a great way to prioritize your mental health and fight back against the effects of burnout. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you need help with counseling for professionals.