Burnout is real! And is generally a workplace issue caused by a chronic imbalance between job demands, job resources, and recovery opportunities. It develops gradually, often over years, and it has been shown to be mostly driven by systemic organisational factors rather than individual responses to stress.
Incorporating these healthy habits into your organisation and individually can significantly reduce burnout among dental professionals:
1. Prioritise Self-Care
- It begins with you – make a decision to help yourself. Prioritise and take steps, no matter how small, towards looking after yourself first. Taking care of your physical and mental health is crucial for maintaining energy and resilience. Prioritise regular exercise, adequate sleep, and healthy eating habits to recharge and stay focused.
2. Establish Boundaries
- Setting boundaries means establishing clear limits on what you are willing to accept or tolerate in various aspects of your life, such as work, relationships, and personal time. This helps protect your mental and physical well-being and ensures you have time for rest and self-care. Clearly defining work hours and personal time helps maintain balance. Set realistic expectations for workload and learn to delegate tasks to avoid overwhelming yourself.
3. Practice Mindfulness
- Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and engaged in the current moment, without judgement or distraction. It involves paying attention to thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and the surrounding environment with acceptance and openness. Practising mindfulness techniques such as meditation or deep breathing can reduce stress levels and improve focus. Simply stopping to take 3 deep breaths can make all the difference and bring you back to the moment. Incorporate short mindfulness breaks throughout the day to stay grounded and calm.
4. Continual Learning
- Ongoing learning fosters growth, keeps your skills relevant, and enhances professional satisfaction. It provides new challenges and perspectives, preventing monotony and stagnation in work. Additionally, learning can expand your toolkit for coping with stress and adapting to changing demands, thereby reducing the risk of burnout by promoting resilience and a sense of accomplishment. Attend workshops, webinars, pursue certifications, or participate in dental conferences to stay motivated and inspired.
5. Foster Supportive Relationships
- Actively creating a network of support helps prevent burnout by providing emotional validation, practical advice, and a sense of belonging. A support network can offer encouragement during challenging times, share experiences, and provide perspective on work-related issues. Knowing that you have colleagues or friends who understand your challenges and are willing to listen can reduce feelings of isolation and stress, promoting overall mental well-being and resilience against burnout. Overthinking and being in our own head can lead to excessive rumination, heightened stress levels, and impaired decision-making. It can also amplify negative emotions and make it difficult to focus on the present moment or find effective solutions to problems.
6. Take Regular Breaks
- Taking short breaks throughout the day allows for mental refreshment and reduces fatigue. Step away from your workstation, stretch, or take a brief walk to recharge and maintain productivity. Walk outside, take a breath and look up at the sky, or out the window, for a new perspective, the power of such a simple action is invaluable.
7. Seek Professional Help When Needed
- Recognise signs of burnout such as chronic fatigue, irritability, or decreased job satisfaction. Seeking support can provide guidance, insights, and strategies to navigate challenges, improve self-awareness, and enhance skills. Don’t hesitate to seek guidance from a healthcare professional, coach or counsellor to address burnout symptoms and prevent long-term effects.
Incorporating these seven healthy habits into your daily routine can significantly contribute to preventing burnout and promoting overall well-being in your dental practice. By prioritising self-care, establishing boundaries, practising mindfulness, and fostering supportive relationships, you can maintain professional satisfaction and deliver exceptional patient care.
*𝘓𝘺𝘯𝘤 𝘋𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘴. 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰@𝘭𝘺𝘯𝘤𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮.𝘢𝘶
*𝘋𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 24/7 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦. 𝘥𝘱𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵.𝘰𝘳𝘨.𝘢𝘶
