Tips to avoid burnout
Working in the healing arts can be very emotionally and psychologically demanding. Certain types of alternative health professions are also very physically demanding, and being self-employed puts you under stresses that you never had to deal with as an employee. As a result, many practitioners get burned out.
The following suggestions will not only help you to prevent burnout, they will also improve your health. You are now a healthcare provider and you need to practice what you preach and set a good example for clients.
• Don't work beyond your limitations . Some practitioners can handle doing treatments 8 hours a day and for others it is 4 or 5 hours a day. Learn what the limit is for you, and don't exceed it.
• Get alternative health treatments . Get other alternative health treatments on a regular basis such as chiropractic, acupuncture, massage and naturopathy. Many other alternative health professionals are open to trading services. This is a good way to maintain your health without extra costs.
• Get enough sleep . Always make sure to get enough sleep. It is very difficult to work on clients all day if you are not getting enough sleep.
• Eat a healthy diet . Be sure to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, and to get enough omega 3 in your diet. Omega 3 is a natural substance that is an anti-inflammatory and will help you to prevent repetitive stress injuries that certain types of practitioners are prone to. It will also help to ease joint pain from standing all day.
Good sources of Omega 3 are wild salmon, sardines, wild tuna, flax seed and hemp seed (the kind you buy at the health food store with the THC removed). Certain types of eggs are now fortified with omega 3 and these are a good choice also.
Eat plenty of berries. Berries contain a substance called bioflavonoids, which also are a natural anti-inflammatory. They also contain a lot of antioxidants which keep your immune system strong. Working so closely with clients, it is very easy to pick up colds, and having a lot of antioxidants in your diet will help to prevent this. Fresh ginger is also a good natural inflammatory. You can cook with it or grate it and make it into a tea.
A good healthy snack is ground flaxseed mixed with fresh berries and a little bit of yogurt. I grind mine fresh everyday using a small coffee grinder. Other good quick snacks that are high in omega 3, antioxidants and low in calories are fresh fruit, mini carrots, mini peppers, tomatoes stuffed with tuna or salmon salad, hard boiled eggs, and V8 juice.
• Drink plenty of water . Dehydration is a very common problem. A good idea is to get some large packs of bottled water and put some in your car, your office room, your treatment room, and several rooms in your house. You should also read the book, “Your Body's Many Cries for Water” by Dr. F. Batmanghelidj, MD.
• Learn less strenuous techniques. If the work you do is very strenuous, learn other techniques that are less strenuous that you can incorporate into your routine, and offer as up-sells.
• Spend time outdoors . Alternative health practitioners spend a lot of time closed up indoors in treatment rooms. By getting out and going for a walk, a hike, or a stroll on the beach, you will get fresh air and sunlight, feel revitalized and reconnect with the earth.
• Workout on a regular basis. Standing all day and overusing certain parts of your body in your work takes its toll on the muscles and joints. A regular workout plan will help you to keep your muscles and joints in good shape. Many personal trainers are open to trading services with other alternative health professionals.
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