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60 / 5 000 Tips for Managing Stress and Burnout
Healthcare professionals are on the front lines of caring for and supporting patients. However, this essential role can often put them at high levels of stress and an increased risk of burnout. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased these pressures, making the need for effective strategies to manage stress and prevent burnout more urgent.
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Here are some tips for recognizing and managing stress and burnout :
Recognizing the Signs of Burnout
Physical Symptoms
- Chronic Fatigue
- Sleep Disturbances
- Muscle Pain and Frequent Headaches
Emotional Symptoms
- Feelings of Detachment or Cynicism
- Decreased Job Satisfaction
- Increased Irritability and Impatience
Behavioral Symptoms
- Decreased Work Efficiency
- Frequent Absenteeism or Lateness
- Disengagement from Work Activities
Recognizing these early signs is crucial to intervene before burnout becomes a permanent fixture.
Strategies for Managing Stress
1. Establish Clear Boundaries
It is essential to set boundaries between work and personal life. This includes:
- Setting fixed work hours and sticking to them as much as possible.
- Learning to say no to extra tasks that could overload your schedule.
2. Practicing Mindfulness and Meditation
Techniques such as mindfulness and meditation can significantly reduce stress. They help to:
- Improve focus and mental clarity.
- Reduce anxiety and promote a state of calm.
Mindfulness practice: Spend 5 to 10 minutes each day focusing on your breathing and observing your thoughts without judgment.
3. Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle
- Diet : A balanced diet can improve your energy and resilience to stress.
- Exercise : Regular physical activity is a great way to reduce stress. Try to incorporate at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise into your daily routine.
- Sleep : Make sure you get enough sleep each night. Good sleep is crucial for mental and physical well-being.
In an interview with Karine Branger, a specialist in work psychology, for Face au conflit, she gives us her point of view and advice on managing stress at work:
“Face-au-conflit: Can you explain to us what Psychosocial Risks, stress and burnout are?
Karine Branger: There is currently no regulatory definition of psychosocial risks in France. However, everyone agrees to group together under Psychosocial Risks:
-stress at work (stress is a normal physiological reaction; it is its excess that becomes problematic). According to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work: “stress is felt when an imbalance is perceived between what is required of the person and the resources they have to cope with it. [...]
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Face-au-conflit: Why should we prevent burnout/stress? How should we proceed?
Karine Branger: First of all, we must reduce stress and RPS for personal and individual health reasons, but also for public health reasons. Jobstrain (stress + RPS + burnout) would cost between 1.9 and 3 billion euros, according to one of the rare studies conducted by the INRS on this subject. This estimate includes costs related to health care, absenteeism, cessation of activity and premature deaths.
We must prevent burnout for better well-being, both personal and professional. […]
Face-au-conflit: What should be done to put an end to it?
Karine Branger: I don’t think it’s possible to put an end to stress in general. Stress is part of our daily lives, whether we experience it well or badly. This could be a nice utopia… but it is ultimately unrealistic. On the other hand, it is possible to reduce and prevent it by acting on work organizations. It is also necessary to develop, in each person, adaptation capacities that will allow them to bounce back and face the situations encountered. […]
Managing stress and burnout is essential for healthcare professional well-being and quality of care. By recognizing the signs, prioritizing self-care, setting clear boundaries, using stress management techniques, seeking support, developing hobbies, and investing in professional development, healthcare professionals can better navigate the challenges of their demanding jobs. A proactive and balanced approach is the key to maintaining a sustainable and fulfilling career in healthcare.
