5 Ways to Prevent Professional Burnout
A reader who works with a chronic pain, military population recently asked if I had any tips to prevent burnout. Here are some of mine and also some I gathered from Social Media.
1) Take Different Con Ed Courses
- Most of us gravitate toward con-ed courses we are familiar with, have a certain reputation, etc
- A good way to prevent burnout is to expose yourself to a good seminar on a topic that is novel and challenging
- To most I would recommend Explain Pain or Therapeutic Neuroscience Education
- Getting new ways to interact with patients, especially a chronic pain caseload that does not respond rapidly helps
- Changing your mindset as to how you view these patients prevents the “I feel powerless to help”
2) Hangout and interact with like minded professionals
- join a group like PT: Practice, Education, and Networking on facebook started by my buddy Rick Daigle of Medical Minds in Motion
- participate in a forum like Manual Therapists, ask questions and chime in on other people’s posts
- try to start a local Clinician’s group where you can practice techniques, assessments and discuss cases semi regularly
- avoid arguing on the internet or with colleagues who are stuck in a model that disagrees with your practice (to a point)
3) Consider taking part time cases in a different setting
- if you’re in outpatient, try home care
- even 2 different cases in a different setting once a week really helps prevent burnout
- prior to all my different endeavors, I worked full time in a private clinic (as a manager), did Clinical Peer Review, and taught at 3 different PT schools, needless to say, I did not get bored!
4) Don’t take your work home with you
- obsessing over a case you think you could have done better often prevents you from relaxing at home
- if you need help, ask online in a facebook group, twitter, or a forum, but otherwise enjoy your time away from work
- just like I tell my chronic pain patients, make sure you take time to listen to your favorite music, have a glass of wine, or watch your favorite movie
5) Strive to change and adapt regularly
- part of stagnation or burnout is a lack of change, we all need variability
- if you have not changed the way you assess, treat, or the framework at which you make your clinical decisions at least every 2-3 years, it is time for you to rethink things!
- finding a mentor, whether it’s online or in person really helps with this as you watch them in their patient interactions
Dr. Erson Religioso III, DPT, MS, MTC, CertMDT, CFC, CSCS, FMS, FMT, FAAOMPT, graduated from D’Youville College in 1998 with a dual Bachelor’s of Science and Master’s of Science in Physical Therapy. His interests in Orthopaedics and Manual Therapy lead him to pursue a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of St. Augustine. Studying under Stanley Paris, Ph.D, PT, internationally known for his manual skills and knowledge of the spine as well as his distinguished faculty, Dr. Religioso earned his DPT and Manual Therapy Certification in 2000. He later became credentialed in Mechanical Diagnosis and Treatment of the Spine in 2000. Erson also operates several websites dedicated to Manual Therapy, www.themanualtherapist.com, www.modernmanualtherapy.com as well as www.edgemobilitysystem.com
- 5 Ways to Prevent Professional Burnout - February 14, 2021
- The First Breathing Strategy You Should Be Teaching - August 17, 2020
- Level Up The Prone Press Up - May 26, 2020
