- I think about how dependent healthcare practitioners have become on technology. What was once a convenience has now become a necessity. Most jobs are completely remote, and even for those that are in-person, the majority of the work is still done on a computer screen. This can lead to both physical and mental health issues. My father, who works in the healthcare industry and often works remotely, frequently complains about headaches from spending most of his day staring at a screen. He now has to wear lenses that help reduce eye strain caused by prolonged use of technology.
- Attitude and outlook stood out to me the most because they matter greatly. If your attitude is positive and you maintain a healthy work-life balance, it will benefit you in other areas, such as technology use, clinical care, and physical fitness. A positive attitude can help you stay consistent with a fitness routine and enhance clinical care, as practitioners who treat both mental and physical conditions often find that a positive outlook improves treatment outcomes. Maintaining a positive attitude and setting goals are my key recommendations for staying healthy and preventing burnout. Having something to look forward to, whether at work or outside of it, keeps you motivated, pushes you forward, and brings joy.
- Regarding technology and office setup, I don’t see how having multiple screens would be beneficial. I think it could divide a practitioner’s focus and require even more screen time. I’m not sure this would help alleviate burnout. Instead, I would suggest working intensely on one screen for fifteen minutes, followed by a brief break, then returning to work on paper. In clinical care, I do not fully agree that requiring extra effort is a significant factor in fatigue; rather, it depends on the type of additional effort being made. According to the material, short breaks may be a factor in fatigue. I believe short breaks are healthy, but perhaps fewer, longer breaks would be more effective. Regarding attitude and outlook, trauma itself is not the issue—it is how the trauma impacts you that can lead to burnout.
- What resonated with me most in the practitioners’ opinions were the factors that lead to burnout: hours worked, workload, commute, and administrative burden. These issues stand out because they are often unavoidable, especially in the current economic climate. Many people are compelled to work long hours and assume additional responsibilities to increase their income. Taking on leadership roles is often necessary for higher pay, and commutes are difficult regardless of location. While each scenario is different, if I had to choose, I would prefer a technology-mediated role because it still allows for some in-person interaction, which helps the day pass more quickly.
- I agree with all of his definitions, as they address the cognitive, emotional, and physical aspects of burnout. As someone who provides therapy for children with autism, I can relate to feelings of dissatisfaction or negative associations with work, which can make the job more stressful. I have not taken an MBI, but I am interested in doing so to identify where I currently stand and to take the proper precautions to prevent burnout from worsening.
- The suggestions given, such as meditation and yoga, are beneficial because they help slow the mind and counteract stress, a major contributor to burnout. Other helpful activities include journaling, creating art, or watching movies and television shows. Not every activity used to reduce burnout must slow the thought process, but it should be something you genuinely enjoy. When you enjoy what you are doing, it does not feel like a task to complete, but rather a meaningful journey toward a desired goal.
Blog 4
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Journaling and creating art are such important modalities for processing. For too long now people have been viewing creating art as a means of production and hustle. I think too many of us have forgotten that art is for us and our own well being. Even if it is “bad”, it is still beneficial. Everyone go make art!
Garrison,
You did a nice job on the first two questions in this assignment. Physical symptoms are often associated with high use of technology, but we don’t always attribute them to the correct source, right? And your discussion of the role of attitude makes a lot of sense. Having something you value – as you say, look forward to – outside of your professional roles is critical.
I was intrigued by your answer to #3. I think the idea of multiple screens/monitors is so you can follow information without switching. I think you are correct that it depends on the circumstances, but I know when I was teaching Zoom classes to older adults, for instance, an additional screen could have been really helpful. And I’m not sure it’s always possible to “return to paper.”. I have lots of struggles with this myself. I frequently will utilize paper notes to keep up with what I read in your posts, but in the end, it is the online version I am forced to deal with. And I missed the idea of short breaks contributing to fatigue – it’s an interesting discussion.
I lost you in question 4. You talked about workload and administrative burden and the reality of taking those things on to advance or increase your pay. That all makes sense to me. I’m not sure how technology-mediated practice would allow for in-person communication. It might be true if the job was a hybrid format, but I wasn’t sure where you were going with that one.
In question 5, I would have liked to hear more about how your work with children with autism enables you to better understand dissatisfaction with your work. I can imagine, but I would have liked to hear more.
Good suggestions on how to reduce stress.
Nice job.
Dr P