How To Avoid Burnout as a Physician Assistant

The medical field is rife with burnout. Despite the competitive pay, doctors, nurses, and physician assistants often succumb to the weight of the stress and leave the profession. To excel in medicine, one must understand how to control their mental state so that they do not give in to the traps that lead to exhaustion. This article on how to avoid burnout as a physician assistant should serve as a reminder to people in the field about how to take care of themselves so they can take care of their patients.

Know Your Limits

Physician assistants should be aware of the signs of burnout. As you work, take note of how you are feeling and what thoughts occupy your mind. Are you overwhelmed? Do you feel depressed or anxious? Instead of being caught off guard by a sudden attack of burnout, pay attention to the indicators that it is creeping up. If you can identify it quickly, you can nip it in the bud.

Exercise

One of the best ways to avoid burnout as a physician assistant is to keep your body in motion. Although we tend to think of the mind and the body as two separate entities, they interact with and affect each other. If you keep your body moving with lots of exercise, you will feel more lively, more awake, and you will be less likely to buckle under burnout. There are many, many different ways to get the exercise you need. Some people lift weights and climb rocks, while others prefer a leisurely stroll several times a week.

Spend Time With Friends and Family

It may sound counterintuitive, but if you want to advance your career as a physician assistant, you need to take some time away from work. Too much time dedicated to your career will eventually wear you down. If you do not have relationships outside of work where you can explore different parts of your personality, you will feel consumed and controlled by your goals as a physician assistant. This will eventually lead to burnout.