This document discusses preventing, recognizing, and mitigating professional burnout. It describes burnout as having three dimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization or cynicism, and reduced sense of accomplishment. Warning signs of burnout are discussed for the physical, emotional, and behavioral levels. Degrees of burnout and the costs of burnout are also covered. The document provides strategies for preventing burnout such as setting boundaries, managing stress, spending time on hobbies, journaling, getting support, using humor, and exploring career options. It emphasizes the importance of self-care.

1. Preventing, Recognizing, and Mitigating
Professional Burnout
Melissa C. Harrell, M.Ed., MPH, LPCS
The Lights are on but Nobody is Home!

2. WHERE ARE YOU TODAY?
 Before we begin please take a moment to
complete the short survey. These will only be
used for your self care purposes not for
anyone else to see.
So…BE HONEST

3. GROUNDING ACTIVITY

4. Three Dimensions
 Emotional Exhaustion
 Depersonalization (Cynicism)
 Reduced sense of accomplishment

5. EXHAUSTION
 You are drained after a day of work and are
unable to recover your energy even when you
take time off.

6. Depersonalization
 Your attitude is negative, detached, uncaring
leading to one becoming cynical about clients
and the work. We often refer to this as
compassion fatigue.

7. Reduced sense of
Accomplishment
 Questioning whether what you are doing is
really worth your time
 Common Quotes
“Who Cares?” “What is the point anyway!”
 Type A and overachievers very vulnerable
here

8. Warning Signs
PHYSICAL
 Clammy hands
 GI disturbances
 Dry mouth
 Eating disorders
 Body aches
 Heart palpitations
 Muscle tension
EMOTIONAL
 Anxiety
 Depression
 Panic
 Frustration
 Grief
 Sense of
powerlessness/
worthlessness

9. Behavioral Warning Signs
 Blaming Others
 Crying
 Irritability
 Short attention span
 Over activity
 Negative attitude
 Short temper
 Risk taking

10. DEGREES OF BURNOUT
 Third degree ++No interest in working in the field
 Second degree + physical/ emotional symptoms
 First degree = negativity about the workplace

11. The COST of Burnout
 The response to self care is that it is a luxury
and we just don’t have the time or financial
resources.
 Take a moment to think how much it would
cost you financially if you had to take a
medical leave or if you could NEVER do your
job again.

12. Our Current Situation
 Look at the Stress and Burnout Questionnaire
 Interpreting score ranges

13. BURNOUT TEST
WARNING…THIS MIGHT MAKE YOU VERY
ANXIOUS
 Leave on Friday DO NOTHING WORK
REALTED ALL WEEKEND. If you are a parent
this may even mean getting away from
childcare responsibility.
 No response…next steps…

14. Changing our Mindsets to
Prevention

15. SET BOUNDARIES
 Accept you are only human
 To help others you must be well yourself
 Refuse to be a part of the 24/7 club
 Downtime is a Virtue
 What does your life pie look like?

16. Manage your stress before it manages
you!
 Accept that stress is inevitable and make a
personal plan for you
 Guard your time as you do your money
Money is renewable but time is not
 Exercise
 Meditation/prayer/inspiration
 Hobbies

17. Think Like A Child

18. TOY
 T ime
 O ff for
 Y ou
 Time that you spend doing things you love and
that includes absolutely nothing!!!
 Take a vacation day and don’t even tell your
family.
 Chores will be there when you get back

19. Journaling
 Buy a journal
 Set aside time
 Write about anything that comes to mind:
dreams, goals, successful days, things you are
grateful for
 Write out your thoughts and feelings
try not to just vent or catalog events
 Keep it private so you can write freely

20. Support each other
 Develop your support system of family, friends,
colleagues
 Support and care for each other
 Say: You look like you are having a bad day let
me do that and you take a break

21. Humor
Laughter is the best medicine and
No Co-pay!

22. Explore your career options
 You are never stuck !
 It doesn’t always mean a job change,
sometimes
just a shift can be helpful

23. TIME TO MAKE A REAL PLAN
 Think of one thing that you can do EVERYDAY
 Think of one thing you can do weekly
 Think of one thing you can do monthly
 Think of one things you can do yearly

24. ALWAYS REMEMBER…
YOU are the product and only YOU will be able
to allow the permission to take care of YOU!