Investing in self-care for burnout and compassion fatigue

Photo Cred: Nataliya Vaitkevich/Pexels

By Integrative Practitioner Staff

Burnout and compassion fatigue are often caused by factors in the workplace. Today, an increasing number of organizations are taking burnout into account when recruiting new employees. For those looking for a job or looking to switch jobs, finding the best fit starts in the interview process. When interviewing for a job, ask them how they position employees to prevent burnout and achieve balance. Inquire about the corporate culture, and whether administration is supportive and flexible. Walk around as though you were about to be admitted as a patient and ask the following questions:

• What does it feel like here?
• What is the nurse/patient ratio?
• How much of your time is allocated to paperwork/electronic health records?
• Are colleagues and staff friendly—do they work well together?
• What is the turnover rate?
• Am I suited for this?
• Is this my tribe? Can I thrive here?
• Do they have a designated “rest room,” a space to meditate, a garden, a chapel?

Check your pulse rate, your breathing and your gut feelings. What makes me tick? What makes me sick? Is this place a deposit in my health account or a withdrawal, and can I afford it? Going into a situation with awareness is a predictor of success.

Take a preventative approach to burnout and stop symptoms before they worsen. It’s commonly known that irritability may lead to anger, which will eventually lead to burnout. Therefore, at the first sign of irritability, stop the bleed, so to speak. Identify the source, the trigger, and start to ground yourself by beginning to breathe. Allow the angst to settle at the bottom of your feet. Activation of the vagus nerve occurs through conscious breathing, with the exhale being a bit longer than the inhale, inviting the body’s relaxation response to kick in. Select skillful strategies from The Triumvirate Technique. A triumvirate references three pillars of support, usually describing three people holding power. By definition, the triumvirate is three techniques—homeopathy, mindfulness, and cognitive behavior therapy and positive emotion induction— holding power for and in you.

A well-selected remedy from the Homeopathic Materia Medica of adaptive network nanomedicine will fulfill the ability to self-regulate and quench the fires of irritability and anger. The ability to see clearly follows and the opportunity to experience the effect mindfulness meditation affords us, the calm abiding of the noble Eightfold Path of the Buddha. Employing the techniques of cognitive behavioral therapy that assist in deconstructing negative thoughts and the induction of positive emotions completes the powerful triumvirate of body, mind, and spirit that actualizes your potential and defeats burnout.

The The Power of $elf Care: A Common Sense Guide to YOUR Wellness Solution identifies these actions as deposits in specific asset allocations in your Health Investment Portfolio. In financial terms, a portfolio describes a collection of investments that reflect your lifestyle goals and risk-limiting strategy. Creating an investment portfolio for your health involves the same principles.

Include both short term and long-term investments. Health is your short-term investment, your daily level of energy and the absence of disease. Harmony is your long-term investment, the quality of your life and a state of wellbeing and inner peace. Identifying your own Health Investment Portfolio, including your short and long-term health investments, is a crucial step for work-life balance and avoiding burnout.

Short-Term Investment:

• Diet
• Exercise
• Lifestyle
• Sleep
• Relationships
• Meditation
• Meaningful work

Long-Term Investment

• Health
• Wellness
• Happiness
• Joy
• Harmony
• Peace
• Clarity
• Focus

Editor’s note: This article is an excerpt from the Burnout Syndrome and Compassion Fatigue: A Self-Care Guide for Integrative Practitioners.