Burnout has become a prevalent concern among healthcare professionals, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding what burnout is, how to recognize it, and what steps to take can empower healthcare workers to seek support and implement strategies for recovery.

What Is Burnout?

Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged and excessive stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands. In the healthcare setting, burnout can be particularly insidious due to the high-stakes environment and the emotional toll of patient care.

The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies burnout as an occupational phenomenon resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. According to the Maslach Burnout Inventory, burnout encompasses three key dimensions: 

1. Emotional Exhaustion: Feeling drained and depleted of emotional resources.

2. Depersonalization: Developing a cynical attitude towards patients and colleagues.

3. Reduced Personal Accomplishment: Experiencing a decline in feelings of competence and successful achievement in one's work. 

Recognizing Burnout: Do You Have It?

If you're questioning whether you're experiencing burnout, trust your instincts. Common signs include:

• Chronic fatigue: Feeling tired even after adequate rest.

• Insomnia: Difficulty falling or staying asleep.

• Forgetfulness: Trouble concentrating or remembering tasks.

• Physical symptoms: Headaches, gastrointestinal issues, or other unexplained ailments.

• Increased irritability: Short temper or frustration over minor issues.

• Detachment: Feeling disconnected from work or colleagues.

• Lack of satisfaction: Feeling unfulfilled despite achievements.

Remember, you don't need a formal diagnosis to acknowledge burnout. If you resonate with these symptoms, it's essential to take them seriously.

Burnout in Healthcare: An Ongoing Concern

Recent studies continue to highlight the alarming prevalence of burnout among healthcare workers:

• A 2022 CDC report found that 46% of health workers reported feeling burned out often or very often, up from 32% in 2018. 

• A 2023 study published in JAMA Network Open reported that annual burnout rates among U.S. healthcare workers rose from 30.4% in 2018 to 39.8% in 2022 before improving slightly to 35.4% in 2023

• The American Medical Association noted that physician burnout rates peaked at 62.8% in 2021, with a slight decrease to below 50% in 2024.  

Yes, the numbers are improving slightly.

No, that’s not good enough.

Half of all physicians being burned out is not a win. That’s a statistical improvement.
But it’s not a solution.

If you knew there was a 50/50 chance that your pilot was burned out, would you still board the plane?

If the surgeon about to perform your loved one’s quadruple bypass had a coin-flip chance of being emotionally exhausted, depersonalized, and questioning whether their work even mattered—would you feel confident?

Burnout at this scale isn’t just a personal wellness issue.
It’s a safety issue.
A workforce sustainability issue.
A moral issue.

So yes, the numbers are down.
But no, we’re not celebrating.

Because behind every statistic is a human—questioning their career, swallowing their emotions, or quietly wondering if this is just how it has to be.

It’s not.
And that’s why this conversation matters.

Burnout isn’t just about stress. It’s about disconnection—from meaning, from agency, from the very reasons we went into this work. And while the system still demands more than it gives, we can’t wait for external change to catch up.

We have to start reclaiming our inner fire.
Not through hustle—but through vision.
Not by doing more—but by becoming more ourselves.

Contributing Factors: Why Healthcare Professionals Are at Risk

Several factors contribute to the high rates of burnout in the healthcare sector:

• Workload: Long hours, understaffing, and high patient loads increase stress levels.

• Emotional Strain: Regular exposure to suffering, death, and ethical dilemmas takes an emotional toll.

• Administrative Burden: Excessive documentation and bureaucratic tasks reduce time for patient care.

• Lack of Autonomy: Limited control over work schedules and decision-making can lead to frustration.

• Organizational Culture: Lack of support, recognition, and open communication exacerbates feelings of isolation. 

Additionally, certain personality traits common among healthcare professionals, such as perfectionism, high empathy, and a strong sense of duty, can increase susceptibility to burnout.

Co-Existing Conditions: Beyond Burnout

Burnout often doesn't occur in isolation. It can be accompanied by or lead to other mental health conditions, including:

• Depression: Persistent sadness, loss of interest, and feelings of hopelessness.

• Anxiety: Excessive worry, restlessness, and physical symptoms like increased heart rate.

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Especially prevalent among those exposed to traumatic events.

• Substance Use Disorders: Using alcohol or drugs to cope with stress. 

Recognizing these co-morbid conditions is crucial for comprehensive treatment and recovery. 

Steps Toward Recovery: Your Way Back Through the Fire

Burnout recovery isn’t a checklist—it’s a transformation. And in my experience, it doesn’t happen through grit alone. It takes space, intention, and a new way of relating to yourself.

That’s why I created the Phoenix Blueprint, a 6-step process that walks you from survival mode back into your full strength and creative power:

1. Rest + Recover – You can’t solve burnout in the same state that caused it. Step one is to restore your nervous system. This means permission to pause—not forever, but long enough to hear yourself again.

2. Self-Study – Burnout isn’t just about the system (though the system matters). It’s also about how we’ve been trained to show up. Through coaching, reflection, or writing, you begin to ask: What’s mine? What’s not? What stories am I living by—and are they helping me?

3. Set Boundaries – Burnout often comes from being overextended. Learning to say no, delegate, or simply take up space is a skill—and one that can be strengthened with support.

4. Learn Better Ways of Communicating – Many of us default to people-pleasing, overexplaining, or staying silent. Burnout recovery includes finding your voice—and learning how to use it without fear or collapse.

5. Become a Lighthouse – You don’t have to fix everything to lead. When you live in integrity, you naturally inspire others. This is the quiet power of showing up differently.

6. Step Into Advocacy – Not all advocacy is loud. Sometimes it’s planting seeds, sharing ideas, or joining others who are doing the work. But when you’re ready, your voice can help shape the world.

Coaching + Community: Two Tools That Make It Easier

You don’t have to navigate this alone. Coaching can help you build the mental fitness and emotional awareness needed to shift out of burnout—and stay out. It offers a structured space to:

• Change the habits and mindsets that keep you stuck

• Build clarity around what you really want

• Stay accountable to what matters most

But just as important? Community.
Burnout thrives in isolation. Healing happens in relationship.

Whether it’s a group coaching program, peer circle, or facilitated workshop, surrounding yourself with people who get it can change everything. You don’t have to explain why you’re tired. You don’t have to apologize for needing rest. You just get to be—and begin again.