Senior Consultant – Healthcare
Burnout, to put it mildly, has been on the rise.
Study after study, most recently by McKinsey & Co, tells us that burnout is one of the main causes of women leaving the workplace. This is a large portion of what is known as The Great Resignation.
What’s more, these numbers are often underreported.
There are many factors that lead to burnout:
Volume of work
Constant change
Worries about job security
Expectations to always be on and available
Personal health and safety concerns
The more we learn about burnout and it’s impact on our society, the more questions arise. The challenges are nuanced and complex. But, there is also hope.
There are small and tangible ways that we can reduce burnout for ourselves and for our team members. Building resilience is one such tool.
The most basic definition of resilience is our ability to bounce back. Think of a toddler just learning to run. They run, they fall, they pick themselves up and do it again and again and again.
Building resilience is like building a muscle. It takes action and regular practice. The more you exercise resilience tools, the stronger (and more resilient) you get.
Below are five resilience exercises that you can implement today (and everyday) to help you build your resilience muscle and begin to reduce burnout.
1.) Prioritize relationships, both at work and home
A walk and talk with a friend, small outdoor gatherings, (virtual, socially distanced, or outdoor) lunches with coworkers. This is especially important if the last few years have left you feeling isolated.
2.) Take care of your physical body
A research team at Princeton University found that physical activity reorganizes the brain so that its response to stress is reduced and anxiety is less likely to interfere with normal brain function. Moving your body, even for a little bit, can help us close out stress cycles.
3.) Help others
Focusing on others, whether in philanthropy or at work, is a great way to connect to a community and a greater purpose. It helps us get out of our own heads.
4.) Find purpose
Knowing your why and knowing what fulfills you helps to create meaning.
5.) Ask for help
Asking for help is hard and an act of great vulnerability. We think we should be able to do everything all the time. Asking for help can lessen our load, make us be seen and heard, and can give someone else an opportunity to focus on others.
If you want to bounce back, but don’t want to go it alone – check out our three-session resilience workshop designed and led by yours truly!
By Viktoria Abelson