Working in a caring profession or being a caregiver can be a highly stressful job and burnout is not a rare occurrence in these lines of work. “Burnout” is defined as a prolonged response to chronic emotional and interpersonal stressors on the job. We’ve all been there…and I would guess that some of you still are. However, if you close your eyes and think about it real hard, I bet your can conjure some of that magical feeling you felt when you were just beginning your career.
I have experienced a burnout twice in my career. The first time, I had been working in rural Kansas driving 2 hours one way just to see two patients and hit the road once again. I took a break from Speech Therapy to work in curriculum development for a couple of years only to realize I really disliked spending so much time with a computer and needed more one-to-one human interaction. The second time, I was working very happily at a hospital when I suffered a miscarriage which sent me into a tailspin and caused me to re-evaluate my work/life balance and make some drastic changes. I decreased my hours to part-time and eventually changed jobs finding a sweet spot in the private sector. I love where I am right now personally and professionally and have vowed to never let myself get to that “place” again, so keep reading to learn some of my magic tricks.
No matter the cause, burnout is no fun, but when is it really burnout verses run of the mill fatigue or discontent? Some signs and symptoms of burnout include but certainly aren’t limited to feelings of overwhelming exhaustion, frustration, anger, cynicism and a sense of ineffectiveness or failure. Left unchecked, burnout will eventually affect your personal health and mental wellbeing. It can also ultimately affect your function at your job and your social relationships.
With the state of healthcare and the educational system we are all expected to do more with less. That can lead to burnout in a hurry. Add to the equation therapists wrestling with moral/ethical standards verses maintaining productivity and fiduciary responsibilities and you’ve got a recipe for disaster. Caregivers likewise are balancing needs of family with financial demands. The challenge is everywhere we look.
In researching components of burnout, I came across a multidimensional model (Maslach and Goldberg) that really spoke to me as I reflected on my burnout experiences. Which of these apply to you?
• Emotional exhaustion is a basic stress dimension resulting in feeling emotionally over extended.
• Depersonalization is an interpersonal dimension functioning as a self-protective mechanism resulting in loss of idealism and detachment from others.
• Reduced personal accomplishment is a self-evaluation dimension characterized by a decline in feelings of competence and decreased productivity at work.
Been there, done that? Are you there now? Well you don’t have to stay fixed in that spot. Work overload and personal conflict are the major components in job satisfaction. Those factors apply whether you are a therapist, paid caregiver or stay-at-home mom or happen to be wearing all three hats. It doesn’t matter, you are all experiencing demands on your time and energy from multiple directions.
Task number one is realizing you can take control of this situation and find yourself in a better place. Start by planning an intervention based on the three components discussed above and start with identifying your resources in each area. Unfortunately, in our society, it’s the assumed responsibility of the worker to solve these types of problems BUT that doesn’t mean you can’t have help.
• Emotional exhaustion can be addressed through looking at your work schedule. Is it possible to schedule breaks? How about actually taking a lunch rather than eating while typing at your desk. (If you have a desk…maybe its your car?) Develop your coping skills by really thinking about and perhaps changing your expectations and clarifying your roles. Try out some new time management programs/apps or research some conflict management techniques. (Refer to resources at the end of this post) Share your feelings and vent a little to a friend, spouse or co-worker. Ultimately, whatever steps you take to reduce the impact of stressors will translate to a better sense of satisfaction and peace for you.
• Depersonalization can be lessened through utilization of social resources. Seek out avenues for professional support from colleagues whether it be through this site, ASHA or another forum. Caregivers and parents may be able to find a support network through a meet-up group. Ask for guidance from your supervisor or a seasoned colleague who has worked through similar circumstances. Make a personal decision to continue to depend on friends and family as well.
• Reduced personal accomplishment can be overcome through development of a relaxed lifestyle. Spend some time thinking about activities that put you in a state of calm. Do you enjoy a massage or hot bath? Does it help to spend time in prayer or meditation? Schedule time for a positive, non-work related activity or hobby. Personally, I find solace in reading and scrapbooking. Spend some time in self-analysis. Get to know your self, your personality. What are your goals and aspirations and how can you implement changes to help your work life align with those goals? Print out this Burnout Busting Bingo Game to get a kick-start on Finding the Magic Again! Burnout Bingo
So now you’ve become well versed in burnout research and some basic recommendations. In addition, I’d like to share with you what has helped me the most and that is the implementation of themes in my therapy and at home. Each week my clients will be presented with one theme. This week it’s Fall and we’ve had tons of fun with leaves and acorns. Although I spend a good 20-30 minutes developing the activities, they are then used for all clients regardless of diagnosis and individual goals so over the course of the week my planning is greatly reduced. (My next post will detail how I do this) What the use of themes has done for me is erase the boredom I was experiencing with the same stimulus cards and games/toys from the supply closet. The use of a weekly theme has helped me be more creative and intentional with my treatment each session and I truly get excited thinking about my clients faces when they see the activities for the week. In fact, we now have crying because they don’t want to leave me!
At home, we use themes for meal planning, music, and chores to keep from feeling overwhelmed and stressed in the chaos of two working parents, two teenagers and their accompanying activities. To help myself recharge I pay attention to the social resources available to me, I participate in a “girls” night once a month and “date” night whenever we can. In addition, we plan one weekly family activity. This activity varies depending on our schedules. It may be as simple as frozen yogurt and a drive out of the city to view the stars or as detailed as a weekend at a cabin in the mountains. With a junior in high school, our weekends as a family are limited so I’m committed to savoring each moment possible and it’s really helped my burnout factor decrease.
I hope reading this post has given you some ideas for your own work/life balance. Don’t forget to scroll down to the resources. Take a look at the books under My Reading List and then place your vote in the comments for the book you would like me to review here on AchieveSLP.com. In addition, I would love to hear ideas from all of you in the comments section if you have a trick that has worked MAGIC in your life.
Resources:
My Reading List:
Give and Take by Adam Grant
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Other Books I Recommend:
The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod
The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller
Works Cited:
Maslach, C. and Goldberg, J. Prevention of Burnout: New Perspectives. Applied and Preventative Psychology. 7:63 -74 (1998) Cambridge University Press.