How to Recognise Burnout as a Junior Doctor
Burnout is a growing concern among junior doctors, it often creeps up on you due to long hours, high workloads, and emotional stress of the role. Recognizing the early signs of burnout is crucial to prevent long-term physical and mental health consequences. While medicine demands resilience, ignoring burnout can lead to exhaustion, poor job performance, and even a loss of passion for your career.
Recognizing the Signs
Doctors experiencing burnout may exhibit:
- Chronic fatigue – Feeling constantly exhausted, even after rest, is a common early warning sign. If you find yourself struggling to get through your shifts or lacking the energy for activities outside of work, it may be a sign of burnout.
- Cynicism or detachment from patients – Losing the sense of empathy or connection with patients, feeling emotionally numb, or becoming overly frustrated with colleagues or hospital systems are key indicators.
- Decreased job satisfaction – If you no longer find fulfillment in your work and every shift feels like a burden, burnout may be to blame. This can manifest as feeling trapped in your role or questioning whether medicine is the right career for you.
- Increased errors or lapses in concentration – Burnout can impact cognitive function, leading to mistakes, forgetfulness, or difficulty focusing. These errors can be distressing and further fuel feelings of inadequacy or frustration.
- Physical symptoms – Frequent headaches, insomnia, digestive issues, or unexplained aches and pains may be linked to chronic stress and burnout.
What Can You Do?
If you recognize these signs in yourself, it’s important to take action. Prioritizing rest, setting boundaries, seeking support from colleagues or mentors, and engaging in activities outside of work can help. Speaking to a supervisor or mental health professional about workload concerns may also provide relief. We offer some solutions in some of our other blogs so we encourage you to read further.
For some, making a change in work structure is the most effective solution. Locum work through STAT Recruitment can offer greater flexibility, allowing you to take control of your schedule and prevent burnout. Working in different clinical settings can also provide a fresh perspective, reduce workplace stress, and reconnect you with the aspects of medicine that you enjoy. Rural locum placements, in particular, can be especially rewarding, as these communities deeply appreciate doctors who come to support them. If you’re feeling burnt out and need a change, talk to STAT Recruitment today to explore flexible locum opportunities that prioritize your well-being.
By Dr Miriam Martin
