There is an increased risk for burnout for those in a healing profession – healthcare providers, counselors, faith leaders – because of the intensity of their work which includes excessive demands on their time and emotions. According to the CareerBuilder study, The Care Crunch: 2013 Health Care Trends, 56% of health care professionals reported a high rate of burnout among themselves and their colleagues.Warning signs for burnout
Symptoms that indicate risk for burnout include feeling emotionally drained, negative self-talk, making cynical or sarcastic remarks, or having trouble making decisions. While we all experience these symptoms at times, when they don’t go away with time off, it can indicate a more serious concern. Some people experience physical symptoms as a result of burnout such as high blood pressure, headaches, sleeping issues, depression, anxiety or addiction.
Strategies for preventing burnout
1) Get support from others
- Connect with mentors or colleagues.
- Join or form a group of people who will inspire and support you.
- Seek professional help. If you have access to an employee assistance program (EAP), take advantage of the available services.
2) Take care of yourself
- Eat well.
- Drink enough water.
- Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep.
- Make time regularly for a physical activity that you enjoy.
3) Reduce stress
- Learn tools to help manage your stress such as meditation, prayer, yoga, imagery, humor, breathing exercises, and journaling.
- Get acupuncture, massage and/or cognitive therapy treatments.
4) Set boundaries
- Learn to say no to requests on your time.
- Set a block of time where you completely disconnect from technology every day.
- Schedule activities/commitments to force yourself to end your work day.
5) Have fun doing activities that have nothing to do with work
- Spend time in nature.
- Play games with family and/or friends.
- Take up a hobby or revisit an old one.
The Northshore Acupuncture Center is helping prevent burnout by offering complimentary monthly stress relief treatments for healing professionals. Contact us at 815-814-1319 to sign up for a complimentary group stress relief treatment at Northshore Acupuncture Center in Skokie or to schedule a complimentary stress relief treatment at your healthcare organization.
Get rid of leftovers
Moderation
So you’ve quit smoking, or maybe you’re trying and not sure how long you will last. Either way, quitting is not easy, and staying smoke-free in the long term is even harder. You may have periods of time when you’re feeling confident and a cigarette is the last thing on your mind, or you may all of a sudden have intense cravings. Below are some ways to help keep you smoke-free for a better, healthier life. 
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