Burnout is a common problem. What can you do to help?
We need to reduce workloads, improve efficiency, and provide more support for mental health. These areas are likely to see slow progress due to the current financial and staffing problems many organizations face.
Recent research has shown that individuals have multiple “lifelines” they can use to help them in the short-term while system-level changes are occurring simultaneously. This article outlines three strategies that can be used to help you and the research supporting them.
Coaching One-on-One
1:1 coaching is a proven strategy to reduce burnout. A clinical trial that was randomized. Over a 5-month period, 1:1 coaching was shown to statistically significantly reduce physician burnout by Mayo Clinic colleagues. The absolute rates of emotional exhaustion after 5 months were reduced by approximately 20 percent in the intervention and by around 10 percent in control.
Although coaching is expensive (about $1400 per person in this report), burnout costs much more, running into the billions of dollars each year. According to clinic, its coaching program has helped save over 133,000,000 in physician retention and improved leadership and wellness skills.
Mindfulness-Based Interventions Help Burnout
Recent research has shown that mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), like coaching, can reduce burnout in the short-term. A meta-analysis of 25 studies that involved 925 doctors in 2021 examined the effects of MBIs on stress and burnout. It found small to medium benefits that lasted for years.
MBIs have been associated with greater compassion, dedication and a better therapeutic alliance between clients and providers. MBIs can be used to help with both breath and body-based issues. These flexible practices can be used whenever and wherever they want. They are also not tied to any specific time or place, such as a gym. This makes them attractive for busy people.
Burnout and the benefits of support groups
Peer support groups are another short-term strategy individuals can use. Peer support groups can be very helpful for a variety of issues, including burnout and leadership development.
Support groups can help by normalizing emotions, such as exhaustion and the stress of managing career and family life. This support can be particularly effective if it comes directly from people who have had similar experiences.
Researcher onducted a 2021 randomized controlled trial that found support groups significantly reduced overall burnout rates in the short-term. For six months, six to eight people met in groups to share meals and discuss important topics. Six months later, the results of the follow-up assessment showed statistically significant changes in overall burnout in the intervention group and depression symptoms in the control group.
Online access to coaching, mindfulness interventions, support groups, and other services is possible, which allows for privacy and convenience. These three strategies can be used together, but they are not mutually exclusive. To support growth, health and well-being, you can use more than one strategy in the same day. Other approaches such as CBT may also prove effective in reducing burnout.
These strategies have been tried and tested by us. These strategies are not meant to replace efforts at the organizational level to address the root causes of burnout. To achieve lasting change, the root causes must first be addressed. These efforts can be supported by both short-term and long-term strategies.
For long-term reductions in burnout, organizations must increase their efforts to reduce workload, improve efficiency, and support mental well-being. If you’re suffering from burnout, there is evidence-based support available.
