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that thing you've been feeling lately...
Published about 13 hours ago • 3 min read
Hello Reader,
We need to talk about burnout.
Not the "I'm tired and need a vacation" kind. The kind that makes you question whether you can keep doing this work you trained years for. The kind that's far more prevalent than any of us want to admit.
In our latest conversation, Klaus and I dug into what burnout really looks like, why it's not what most people think, and what helps us move through it.
Here's what we explored:
Burnout Is a System Response, Not a Character Flaw
This might be the most important reframe we can offer: burnout is not a personal failure.
When you're working in a system that demands more than any person can sustainably give, your response to that system isn't weakness. It's a predictable human reaction to unsustainable conditions.
The moment you stop blaming yourself is the moment you can start addressing what's really happening.
Burnout Isn't the Same as Being Tired
Burnout looks different from compassion fatigue. Different from moral injury. Different from depression. Each of these has its own texture, its own root causes, and its own path forward.
Knowing what you're dealing with matters. It shapes how you respond, what support you seek, and how you talk about it with colleagues and loved ones.
Recovery Takes Longer Than We Want It To
Here's the truth nobody talks about: recovery from burnout takes months, not days.
A long weekend won't fix it. A week of PTO probably won't either. This isn't a quick-fix situation, and knowing that upfront can actually help you be more patient with yourself as you work through it.
Your Colleagues Can Be Your Greatest Protection
One of the most powerful protective factors against burnout? Simple, concrete support from colleagues and friends.
Not grand gestures. Not formal programs. Just people checking in. Covering for each other. Acknowledging that this work is hard.
If you take one small step this week, check in with your team. You'd be surprised what's bubbling underneath the surface for all of us, including those of us in leadership roles.
Leaders Need Support Too
If you're in a leadership position, this applies to you too. Finding other leaders, other people you trust, becomes essential. We can't pour from an empty cup, and we can't support our teams if we're running on fumes ourselves.
Check in with yourself. Honestly assess where you are today.
You Aren't Alone
If any of this resonates, know that support exists. We're here. And sometimes just having someone to talk to can make the difference.
Listen to the full conversation to hear more about distinguishing burnout from other forms of distress, and what concrete steps you can take.
Wishing you moments of rest and connection this week,
The healthcare professionals, especially nurses of Minneapolis, our colleagues at the Minneapolis VA, and the American Nurses Association. We stand in solidarity for those peacefully protesting in freezing weather, honoring memory in vigils, and helping neighbors. There is much sadness, violence, and death in the world, and we collectively grieve by talking about it, reaching out, and not normalizing the suffering that is occurring. If you have started or continued a conversation this week, you inspire us. We only move forward together.
The Practice: Celebrating Wins
We get more of what we focus on. The practice of gratitude and celebrating the goodness of life is the first step in changing our brains, mindsets, and circumstances for the better.
Grateful for everyone who was stuck in the hospital or had to work last week during Winter Storm Fern: your dedication and endurance for your team and your patients is not unnoticed. Grateful for warm homes, people who work to remove the snow, and patience. Grateful for taking the time to slow down in the snow. May you give yourself grace to just slow down and appreciate the little things in life.
Stay mindful and keep leading, Lillian Founder & CEO
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By Transforming Healthcare Coaching® Lillian Liang Emlet, MD MS CHSE CPC ELI-MP, Founder & CEO
Live well. Lead well. Grow Together. Weekly conversations to help you stay human in healthcare. We share practical ideas, podcast pearls, and curated reads that help you grow. Together, we can transform healthcare, one person at a time.®
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