Health care has long been associated with long hours and tight work schedules, which often results in stress and anxiety. Fifty-four percent of physicians reported at least one symptom of work-related burnout, according to a 2014 study, and hundreds of thousands of practitioners say they experience a poor work-life balance. There are a number of resources, however, that medical professionals can use to beat burnout and improve well-being. Here are five that you need to know about. 1. Stress Management Training Stress management training provides physicians with the tools they need to cope with stressful work situations: long shifts, mountains of paperwork, disgruntled patients and so on. Health care professionals will learn a wide range of coping mechanisms, such as breathing techniques and better time management. There are various benefits of stress management. Usually, physicians become more aware of their strengths and weaknesses, learn to make self-critical comments and write down their thoughts and feelings for better problem-solving and decision-making. 2. Support Groups Support groups — both online and at medical facilities — provide physicians with emotional assistance so they can tackle health care challenges in a more positive way. One study shows that peer support groups — where physicians consult with other medical staff and students — help these professionals deal with burnout and stress. The nonprofit organization Mental Health America has an online community with nearly 1 million members. Here, physicians can anonymously discuss mental health issues with other medical specialists. 3. Gym Access Gyms are a valuable resource for physicians who want to reduce tension and improve well-being. Research shows that regular exercise has a profound effect on wellness, making it a great idea for medical professionals who experience anxiety and work-related stress. Exercise improves sleep quality, increases stress relief, boosts energy and stamina, enhances mental alertness and reduces fatigue, for example. On-site medical fitness centers allow physicians to work out in a comfortable environment after a long shift. Practitioners can exercise at home, too, if they are unable to get to a gym. 4. Stress Diaries Stress diaries provide physicians with an emotional outlet to document their thoughts after a long day at work. This stress management tool lets them identify the biggest stressors in their life and discover the root cause of their anxiety. The American Psychological Association has outlined the many benefits of keeping a diary. They say expressive writing reduces intrusive thoughts, improves memory and organizes memories. Physicians can update their diary as often as they like and look back at previous entries to see how well they manage stress. 5. Continuing Medical Education Continuing medical education (CME) improves job-related stress in medicine, especially training that takes place in small, supportive learning groups. Typically, physicians who enroll in a course learn new strategies to deal with demanding patients, meet new people and develop new skills that improve their career prospects. Health care practitioners often study for a program at college or online and schedule their study around patient appointments. Physicians report work-related stress in a number of disciplines, with the highest burnout rates observed in critical care and emergency medicine. The five resources on this list might not banish burnout for good, but they serve as simple stress relievers that medical professionals can incorporate into their lifestyle. Source
