CAUTION: Burnout and Fatigue Ahead
Kristi Hudson
"There was a lumberjack," said the Wealthy Gardener, "who chopped trees every day for years. As you can imagine, he initially grew strong due to the strain of his work. After several years, however, his strength started to fail him. He felt overwhelmed by fatigue during his long days, and in this tired state, he began to doubt himself."
"One day, as he sat in a demoralized state, a smaller lumberjack came along and asked him what was wrong. The tired lumberjack said he was about to pack it all up and try his hand at a new trade. The newcomer considered the situation thoughtfully and asked, 'Have you ever sharpened your ax?' The tired lumberjack was dumbstruck, realizing the foolishness of his neglect."
— Excerpt from The Wealthy Gardner (Soforic, 2018)
It seems that burnout and fatigue creep up on you from out of the blue. Everything is going great at work and at home, and then—BAM! The truth is that there are signs when we become more stressed and tired, but often we ignore them and keep plugging along. To be successful in life, we have to take care of our minds and bodies. When you find yourself in these moments, follow these tips to get backto a happier and healthieryou!
1. Take a Break (or rather, Take a Vacation!) If you work for a clinic that gives you vacation time, use it! For years, as we were growing, our team (myself included) rarely, if ever, took a vacation day unless one of our kids was sick. Then, one day, the look and smell of burnout were emanating from every part of my being. I will never forget the morning I walked into Doc's office and stared into the worried faces of him and his wife, Jean. They kindly and firmly told me that I was taking a vacation effective immediately, and if the thought crossed my mind to work from home, there would be severe consequences. I was immediately sent home and told not to return for a week. At first, I was angry—that is the kindest way I know to put it. However, after three or four days, I was grateful. I hadn't even realized how tired I was until I had nothing left to do but rest.
2. Let It Go! Not your job, but finding a release for pent-up energy and frustration is a great way to keep burnout at bay. Going to the gym is a great way to clear your head and release built-up stress. My days are markedly better when I get up early and run at the gym. So much better that I make myself get up even when I would rather stay in bed. It quiets my mind, improves my memory, and I have much better clarity when dealing with anysituation that arises throughout the day. Just like a pressure cooker needs to release steam, so do you. You will be amazed at what 20 minutes of physical activity can do for your life.
3. Shake Things Up a Bit! Whether we realize it or not, burnout often can be a result of the monotony of the same routine every day. As the old saying goes, a change is as good as a rest. Take a different route to work, listen to an audiobook instead of music, or take on a new project at the office. Start cross-training in other areas of the clinic. Even if taking on additional responsibilities seems counterintuitive, when you are having fun, burnout is no longer an issue.
4. Walk Away from Your Desk. When we feel overwhelmed, we tend to skip breaks, or even lunch, and eat at our desks. Taking breaks from your desk a couple of times a day helps alleviate stress. Take your full lunch hour. Go to the park to have your lunch and soak up the sun. Volunteer for opportunities such as health fairs and local marketing that give you a chance to get out of the office. It is remarkable how these small changes can have a significant impact on your mood and mental health.
5. Go to Bed. Just do a web search about the importance of getting enough sleep. You will find the benefits are too good to pass up. Not only does it improve your memory and keep you sharp, but it also fights off colds, keeps your appetite hormones in check, prevents migraines, enhances blood sugar control, and helps fight obesity. The amount of sleep each person needs is different, but the average is seven to eight hours a night. So, skip binge-watching your favorite show on Netflix and hop into bed early tonight!
Burnout is serious and can have adverse effects on every area of your life, from your physical and mental health to your personal relationships and work performance. Working in the amazing profession of chiropractic, we feel inclined to give every ounce of ourselves to our patients, doctors, and everyone around us until we are left with nothing for ourselves. Remember that taking time for yourself to recharge your own batteries will allow you to help more people for a lot longer. Leave burnout behind us where it belongs.
Kristi Hudson is a certified professional compliance officer (CPCO). She serves as the Director of Business Relationships for ChiroHealthUSA where she has helped to educate DCs and CAs on establishing simple and compliant financial policies. She also works with state and national organizations to provide educational awareness on changes within the profession. You can contact Kristi at 888719-9990 or Kristi (a), chirohealthusa. com, or you can visit the ChiroHealthUSA website at www. chirohealthusa. com.
