How to prevent burnout as an allied health professional
Burnout occurs when you feel physical, mental and/or emotionally exhausted after a long or heightened period of stress. It can look and feel different for everyone. You might find yourself feeling overwhelmed, stuck in a cycle of procrastination and unable to motivate yourself to meet constant demands and expectations. Or, you may experience emotional exhaustion or detachment, and feel less accomplished and satisfied by your work.
Burnout is far too common in healthcare
Allied health professionals are particularly vulnerable to burnout, largely due to the nature of the work they do. If you’re in this field, you might relate to the constant churn of patients you have to see and support, giving you minimal time with each patient and even less time between to do admin, record keeping, and all the other non-face-to-face elements of the job.
Excessive expectations
The expectations placed upon you by both patients and employers can be excessive, unrealistic and overwhelming. The work you do isn’t just physically demanding, it also requires a lot emotionally and mentally and this can take a toll over time, or if you’re not adequately supported and cared for. Plus, the hours you’re often expected to work are long, unrelenting and full on - it’s no wonder burnout is fairly common!
Learn more about overcoming some of the workplace challenges many allied health professionals face.
Why is burnout such a problem in the healthcare industry?
The Australian Government’s Mental Health National Workforce Strategy 2022-2032 found that health workers, including those working in mental health, are “at heightened risk of experiencing stress, burnout, and the development of mental illness than the general population due to the demeaning nature of their work.”
The factors they found were driving this sobering statistic were “Increased personal risk, trauma exposure, and physical demands are among the primary factors which negatively affect the mental health and wellbeing of the health workforce.”
Take action before burnout hits
If you’re experiencing emotional exhaustion or any other signs of burnout in your work as an allied health professional, don’t suffer in silence! There are many strategies you can implement to prevent and manage burnout in future, to help you avoid reaching the point of no return in your role.
Don’t wait for burnout to strike, take matters into your own hands and implement ongoing, regular measures to take better care of yourself, physically and mentally. After all, the work you do for others is so impactful and appreciated - so don’t forget that you deserve some of your own time and care too!
Build a support network.
Coworkers or industry connections
Connecting with coworkers or others in your chosen field can be incredibly relieving and validating - which is very useful when it comes to preventing burnout. These people are likely to understand the challenges and emotions you’re facing in your role, and may be able to offer emotional and practical support to help you feel less isolated and alone.
Whether you choose to form support groups with other allied health workers, organise professional networking opportunities to allow you to meet and connect with others, or approach your colleagues in a more intimate, 1:1 setting, feeling seen and understood can do wonders in alleviating some of the resentment, stress and overwhelm you may be experiencing.
Even having someone express they’ve experienced similar feelings and situations can help you realise the struggles you’re facing are not your fault, and there is something you can do about them! It’s empowering and comforting to have supportive people around you who personally understand what you’re going through.
You can also consider joining our Unite Health community. Once you join us, you’re a member for life - meaning you have access to our private Facebook group, networking opportunities, and endless chances to connect with like-minded healthcare professionals who really get what you’re struggling with, and can help support you through it!
Mentors
Finding a mentor in your industry is another great place to seek support. Whether you seek the guidance of someone more senior in your industry, or even your manager or employer at your workplace, these figures are an excellent resource for emotional support, advice and constructive feedback.
Establishing a relationship where you can openly and transparently communicate about the issues you’re facing - whether it’s your workload, stress levels, or systemic/workplace issues, can be the key to managing and reducing your stress and even acquiring additional support or adjustments to help prevent the same problems from recurring.
While a mentor is an excellent port of call if you’re in need of guidance, speaking to those within your workplace may be more effective if it’s actionable change and adjustments you need.
Set realistic boundaries.
Yes, you’re employed to perform your job and deliver to your employer’s expectations. But you’re also a human with a life outside of work. And if your wellbeing and happiness is compromised by your job, not only does your personal life suffer, but so too do your productivity and motivation at work. So it’s in both yours and your employer’s best interest to respect and honour realistic but firm boundaries around your role and responsibilities.
Separate your personal and professional life
Feel empowered to set clear limits around your working hours, and the number of patients you can realistically see in a day or work with at any one time. Overcommitting, even with good intentions and a desire to please your patients and bosses, can quickly lead to burnout.
Within the requirements of your contract or employment, request your employer (and patients if it’s an issue!) avoid contacting you outside of your specific working hours. And recognise that even when you feel compelled to take on more clients, or work longer hours to “get everything done”, this is risking your personal and emotional health.
Say no, without apology, when something unrealistic is asked of you. Instead, have an open discussion with your employer or manager and suggest ways you might better manage your patient load amongst your other responsibilities - whether that looks like capping the number of patients you’re supporting, setting aside more time between appointments, or outsourcing some of your administrative tasks.
Prioritise!
Prioritising is your best friend too. No one can do everything. So don’t expect yourself to either! Set limits around your time and your emotional and physical capacity, and allow yourself the downtime and breaks you need to prevent burnout and remain at your best.
Be strict with yourself
And set boundaries with yourself too! Don’t be tempted to respond to emails as you head to bed at night. Don’t spend your weekends catching up on work you didn’t get to. Ensure your days off are truly restful, as this is the only way to properly replenish your energy, motivation and emotional resources. Instead, spend your weekends with loved ones or engaging in hobbies - it will actually make you better at your job too!
Develop strategies to help in times of overwhelm.
If burnout has already struck, and you’re in need of a way to manage or relieve some of the distress you’re feeling, it’s a great idea to develop a toolkit of healthy coping strategies you can turn to whenever this feeling comes up.
Exercise or physical activity
Regular movement, even if it’s low-intensity like walking or stretching - can quickly reduce the physical strain of your work and increase your endorphin levels and feelings of wellbeing.
Setting aside time for this during your day also forces you to make time to take a break from your work, and since movement demands a lot of your attention your mind is less likely to wander back to work-related things.
Mindfulness practices
Meditation, yoga, breathwork, journaling, or whatever works for you, mindfulness can powerfully reduce stress, improve focus, and even help you be more present and attentive when you’re one-on-one with patients.
Regular mindfulness practice is highly effective in preventing burnout and offering stress relief, so figure out what works for you and try to consistently implement it into your regular routine.
Mental health support
Again, this can look many different ways, including attending ongoing therapy, ad hoc counselling as needed, scheduling regular catch ups with family and friends you feel safe and comfortable around, setting aside time for hobbies and passions, the list is endless.
Whether you pursue a more formal support route, like therapy or an Employee Assistance Program or mental wellbeing program, or a more informal option, regularly tending to and caring for your mental and emotional health is crucial in times of burnout - and also for preventing burnout in the first place.
Don’t wait until you’re at rock bottom to seek support. Even if you feel fantastic and exhilarated by your job right now, establishing the right support system in the good moments will be so useful for the lower moments.
Find meaning in your work.
Sometimes, when allied health workers lose the sense of purpose and fulfilment they once felt from their work, this can be a huge contributor to burnout on its own. So restoring feelings of joy and meaning in your career is important.
Never stop learning or challenging yourself
Committing to continuous learning and growth in your career can help with this. Completing a relevant course or certification, such as one of our huge range of online short courses designed to help you elevate your career with evidence-based knowledge and practical skills, is an effective strategy for preventing or overcoming feelings of stagnation and burnout.
You can also try attending workshops, industry events, or networking opportunities, all of which can reignite your passion for and engagement in your profession. Sometimes, learning something radical and surprising, or connecting with others in your field who are enthusiastic about what you do, is enough to restore your own love for your work.
Another reason why we offer so many chances to attend workshops, webinars, networking opportunities and more at Unite Health - we want to support you as you continue to grow in your career, and in your life!
Celebrate the good moments
Similarly, be sure to celebrate your wins along the way! Even the small ones… Allied health professionals work at such a fast pace, often the victories in your work - whether it be a patient progressing or achieving their health goals, or you mastering a new skill or technique to incorporate into your practice - can be overlooked or swept aside. But taking the time to pause, reflect and really experience the accomplishment and achievement you deserve to feel will help prevent any feelings of ineffectiveness, failure and overwhelm… All of which strongly contribute to burnout!
If you’re only dwelling on your shortcomings or struggles, without acknowledging your impact on your patients’ lives and the wins you’re achieving all the time, your view of yourself and your work will become heavily skewed. We don’t want that happening!
Our APPI Clinical Pilates Certification gives allied healthcare professionals the evidence-based toolkit you need to be able to offer more personalised, comprehensive and supportive services tailored to each of your individual patients. It’s another powerful way of finding meaning in your work - not only are you able to help your patients achieve their health goals efficiently and effectively, you’re also able to feel their gratitude and watch them embrace their newfound quality of life. What could be more meaningful than knowing you helped make that happen for someone?
Keep things interesting and dynamic
Lastly, consider how you can prevent your work and routine from becoming or feeling monotonous. Of course there are elements of every job which aren’t much fun but simply have to be done… But on the whole, how can you incorporate more variety into your daily work?
Can you investigate or explore different specialisations within your chosen field in healthcare? Can you connect with someone in your industry who can teach or mentor you, or educate you on something innovative and novel? Can you work on a new skill, or spend some time getting up to date with the latest emerging research in your field?
Whatever works for you, this can help you feel more excited and motivated in your work, once again preventing you from reaching the point of burnout.
Be proactive and speak up!
Whether you’re experiencing burnout right now as an allied health professional, you have in the past, or you think you’re on the trajectory towards it right now, these strategies will all help you overcome the emotional, mental and physical distress and exhaustion of burnout in the future, and better manage these feelings if they do come up.
Avoiding burnout isn’t something you can do overnight - it’s an ongoing commitment to self-care, professional growth, boundary setting and establishing a strong support system for yourself. Make sure you’re regularly taking time for yourself, and showing yourself the same kindness and compassion you do for your patients!
If you notice yourself feeling overwhelmed, lean on your mental health support systems and your mindfulness techniques - but be sure to stay consistent with these even in good times too!
If you’re looking for a way to feel more excited and engaged in your job, find more meaning and fulfilment in the work you do, or elevate your skillset so you have more opportunities in your industry and can seek out the work conditions you want and deserve, we’re here to help!
Book a free chat with our course experts today to discover how… Between our APPI Clinical Pilates Certification and our huge range of short online upskilling courses, we have the perfect solution for you and your individual needs, whether you’re looking to learn a new skill, feel more confident and capable in your work, connect with others in your industry or build a support system for yourself.