Are you tired or not excited to go to work? Do you feel like you need to make a change?
According to a 2020 Medscape National Physician Burnout and Suicide Report, burnout rates are as high as 43%! The graph above represents this trend and it seems to be continuing as we experience fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic.
In this post, I will review signs you may need to make a work change and what you can do about it today.
Let’s take a look….
Excitement Begone!
Do you find yourself dreading work, looking at the clock all day, and counting down the hours until you can go home. Talking with colleagues, the majority of clinic conversations the past 2 years seemed to be about mask protocols and politics, two subjects I know to avoid like the plague. Colleagues of mine seemed as if their fun meter was at an all time low, and personal dilemmas would soon affect patient care. If you find yourself experiencing “the no fun zone”, its likely time for you to make a change.
Increased Irritability
I think it’s safe to say most of us don’t like being angry. We would all love to be happy go lucky all day every day. For this reason, becoming more irritable may be a sign you need to make a change. In fact, according to the Mayo Clinic, finding yourself more irritable with coworkers and clients is one of the most common signs of burnout. Things that normally don’t irratate you are now becoming tedious and upsetting. Maybe you find yourself becoming the old man who yells at the kids, “get off my lawn”. Finding resources such as deep breathing exercises, meditation, and exercise have helped me deal with my irritability issues and I encourage you to find something that works for you. For more information on these resources, check out some other posts, including meditation, boosting mental health, and making time for yourself.
Self Doubt
Although I’d rather not rank these topics, this last topic regarding self doubt may be the most important to address. The moment you begin to doubt your skills as a clinician, or even more important, your worth as a human, it’s time for a change. These are common signs of depression and reasons you need to make a change. According to WebMD, doctor’s have depression rates between 12-19%, which compares with the general public. However, this number increases to 15-30% in medical students and residents.
Speaking with a therapist can be very helpful not only in treating anxiety and depression, but also in leading to a decision to make a change. Through discussions, you can discover what matters most in your life, and in your career, which can lead to a career switch. In fact, its what helped me make the change to Telehealth and content creation. It can be extremely difficult to open up to a “stranger”; however, I promise you this vulnerability will open so many paths for you in life and your career.
So What Now?
OK great, you’ve identified the signs you need to make a change, what can you do about it? You’re in luck! Find tips and insights are how I transitioned into Telehealth and content creation here.