Managing burnout during the holiday season

The holidays are here and the year is coming to an end. Everywhere you look, there are twinkling lights, shopping, and holiday gatherings galore. This time of year creates a whirlwind of emotions that can leave anyone feeling burned out, physicians especially.

While many industries slow down during the holiday season, healthcare does not. As each year comes to a close, physicians often face an onslaught of patients trying to get in before their deductibles renew. With cold and flu season in full swing, they can sometimes find themselves short-handed and struggling to manage the workload.

On top of that, there’s all of the administrative work that needs to be completed by year-end. There are records, reports, and paperwork that need to be addressed. There are strategy sessions and budget meetings to plan and attend.

Family commitments and personal responsibilities become more frequent during the holidays as well.

Together, all of these responsibilities can cause an overwhelming amount of stress. It is essential to be mindful of that and pay attention to how it affects you. Stress can influence the interactions with your team, the care you provide your patients, and your relationships with your loved ones. So what should you keep an eye out for?

The signs and symptoms of burnout include:

  • Not looking forward to going to work or social events
  • Feeling tired more often than normal
  • Being bothered by things that usually wouldn’t upset you
  • Feeling disengaged from your patients

If you notice that you are experiencing symptoms of burnout, here are a few steps you can take to help manage them:

  • Seek out an employer that emphasizes better work/life balance, like CardioSolution
  • Shift your perspective and re-evaluate your priorities
  • Make some time for self-care
  • Reduce your exposure to workplace stressors
  • Find someone to talk to

Being able to recognize burnout and understand ways to prevent it can help all physicians. The holiday season is meant to be enjoyed. Stress can ruin that, but with the right tools, you can keep it at bay.

At CardioSolution, we understand the large-scale impacts of physician burnout. That is why we built our employment model to support a healthy work/life balance for our physicians. Our interventional cardiologists work 26 weeks per year, or 7 days on and 7 days off. In their time off, they are free to enjoy their hobbies, friends, and family without the stress of work. For more information, call 866-755-7519 or email [email protected].