Do you work in a helping profession and have a sincere passion for what you do every day, but you cannot ignore the fact that your work is affecting your own life, health, and overall well-being? There are often real and undiscussed complications of purpose-driven burnout at work on employees’ health that can be related to the experience of burnout symptoms long-term. Recognizing symptoms of burnout in your life can help you better manage your work-life balance and/or push you to search for meaningful work that also allows you to put some focus back into yourself and/or that fits with your moral values (HBR, 2019; Dr Z 2019).
Burnout is not specific to one profession or only to purpose-driven work. Workplace burnout has recently been classified or defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) because of the enormous negative impact it is having on such a large number of people. The WHO says that burnout “refers specifically to phenomena in the occupational context…a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.” The Mayo Clinic defines burnout as a special type of work-related stress — a state of physical or emotional exhaustion that also involves a sense of reduced accomplishment and loss of personal identity (Mayo, 2019).
In helping professions, such as that of a doctor, nurse, or other healthcare professional, burnout is a factor of moral injury. Moral injury has occurred due to the changes in the way the healthcare system has evolved. Healthcare providers no longer have the tools, the resources, the time, or the autonomy to provide the care they know is possible. In the real world, it’s all about the insurance company’s bottom line and the hospital system’s revenue.
Burnout and unhappiness are what happens when our moral ideals meet the real world in helping professions. This is why I choose to be a resource for those in the purpose-driven medical field, to help find where the passion and purpose you initially found in your chosen profession can be reignited through a new career path (just as I was able to accomplish in my own career).
I have worked with numerous medical professionals who have struggled with passion and happiness in their job due to purpose-driven burnout. I am happy to discuss with you how you have been affected in your career and share possibilities for your future if you decide to explore a new path. Schedule a FREE consultation with me today!
References:
- Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2019/07/when-passion-leads-to-burnout July 2019.
- Dr Z Retrieved from https://zdoggmd.com/moral-injury/ July 2019.
- Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from (https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/burnout/art-20046642) July 2019.