The first step to overcoming burnout

Burnout Newsletter

Ever had a heart-to-heart with a friend about burnout? It's like peering into a mirror reflecting back your own struggles. I recently had one of these conversations with a friend, and what struck me was how she couldn't even see the burnout looming over her.

Isn't it ironic?

It's a bizarre paradox, isn't it? When we're on the brink of burnout, instead of hitting the brakes, we press harder on the accelerator, hoping sheer momentum will carry us through. We dive headfirst into our tasks, convinced that if we just work a little harder, we'll break through to the other side.

That's the sound of inevitability

It's a scenario so common, it's practically a cliché. We casually toss around phrases like "I'm so burned out." But beneath the jokes lies a harsh truth: burnout is real, and it's gnawing away at our well-being.

It doesn't stop there

Even worse, burnout doesn't just impact the coworker. It affects teams and organizations, hindering progress towards important missions.

The simplest way to explain it? I have problems.

Recovery begins with a stark admission: "I am not okay." It's about acknowledging that something is fundamentally off-kilter, whether it's a sudden indifference towards work, a bone-deep weariness that refuses to lift, or a creeping sense of insignificance in the workplace.

These are the warning signs of burnout, flashing neon signals we can't afford to ignore.

I'm looking at the man in the mirror

I've been there, convincing myself that if I just kept up the facade of "having it all together," everything would magically fall into place. But it was a dangerous game, and I paid the price when I slammed into a second wall – AFib and depression.

It took hitting rock bottom for me to finally confront the truth.

Articles

The impact of the pandemic on leaders: A pathway to healing and self-care

Nurse Management magazine

This article highlights the lack of research on the impact of burnout on nurse leaders, and offers a unique four-step process that leaders can use to provide self-care (instead of ONLY telling them that burnout is their fault).
A national study of moral distress among U.S. internal medicine physicians

PLOS ONE

Perceived organizational support is the primary mitigator of burnout at work. This study demonstrates that physicians' perception of their organizations' support was just as important as having PPE during the pandemic. We can't control the supply chain, but we can control how much those around us feel supported.

 

Featured Resource:

New Instagram Profile
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Even on top of a mountain

⛰️ Even at the top of a mountain.

🚶🏼‍♂️When Kristen Riecke and I visited Saint Croix last month, I hiked to the top of Goat Hill–the highest point on the island.

As a Hoosier, I am built for flat surfaces. So, I found the hike to be strenuous.

🎉But it was worth it.

In two ways.

🏝️First, the views were the most magnificent I’ve ever seen. On this tiny island, you can see three of the four coasts from the top of Goat Hill. Turquoise waters. Verdant hills. Colorful homes dotting the horizon. And, of course, the sandy thread that rings most of the land.

Second, I met exactly two (2) people at the top of the mountain (you can hike much of St. Croix without seeing other people).

🗣️ After the usual small talk…

“Are you from here?”
“No, how about you? Where are you from?”
“First time on the island? Yeah, me, too.”
“Want me to take a picture for you?”

😔One of them mentioned that it had been a hard year.

I probed. Even in paradise, I have to probe.

❓“Just like, work stuff and cold weather, or something more?”

What they shared next is private, so I won’t write the details here.

But, we talked for a long time about

1. A recent death in their immediate family and
2. Burnout at work

Now, mind you, I consider these to be two of the most important topics in the world.

And here I was.

Talking with (and hopefully listening well to) stories of grief and burnout.

0️⃣ With zero other humans in sight.

🌄On.The.Mountaintop. Literally.

Even on top of the mountain, we cannot escape these truths.

😓When people die, it can be traumatic. And when we are burned out, it can be traumatic.

These things affect individuals and families. But they also affect teams and organizations.

🏢Trauma, burnout, and grief aren't just the concerns of individual coworkers. They affect the entire organization. I love to empower leaders to foster resilience in any situation.

#grief
#burnout
#stcroix

I didn’t cry for 457 days

😔 I didn’t cry for 15 months. 

🤔 I had always assumed that depressed people cried constantly. 

Of course I was wrong. 

😞 Depression, for me, felt like soul-level fatigue, anxiety, and detachment. 

😶 From the time of my AFib incident, caused by workplace stress and burnout (link in comments), I did not cry for 457 days. 

A younger, less experienced Patrick Riecke might have considered this a heroic feat of internal strength. 

After all, tears are a sign of weakness, right? ❌

🙅🏼‍♂️ No.
(Credit Kristen Riecke) 

😢 Tears and normal, natural, and necessary. 

💊 After eight months of worsening depression and anxiety, I finally accepted the medical intervention my doctor had offered. 

I went on an SSRI for the first time in my life. 

😔 What made me finally accept help? 

😨 My dark days were getting scarier. Once, I saw panic on my bride’s face, Kristen Riecke, scared that she was losing me. 

So, yes, this intervention was necessary. I talk more about this in a previous post, linked in the comments.

🧘‍♂️ Coupled with lifestyle changes, daily meditation, and a host of other adjustments, I started to heal from workplace stress and #burnout. 

🏥 Months later, the intensity of my daily life decreased dramatically when I left my #healthcarejob after more than ten years. I loved that job, but it was time for a change.

💬 So, last month, I talked with my doctor (and spouse) about tapering off of the medicine. 

To be honest, I missed being able to cry. 

😞 Depression took that from me. 

💊 And while the SSRI saved my life, it leveled out my emotions so effectively that tears were still elusive, even as my depression faded. 

A few weeks ago, under #physiciansupervision, I took my last dose of the medicine I needed for eight months. 

Have the tears returned? 

Uh. Yes. 

😭 I have cried at least ten times in the last two weeks. #notashamed 

😊 But 100% of them, so far, have been tears of joy, pride, or gratitude. 

For example:  
😭 I cried because of the help given to me by lifelong friend Andy Didyk, coaching my new business. 

😭 I cried because my son Daniel Riecke is living life in pursuit of his dreams. 

😭 I cried because our daughter got her driver’s permit (tears of joy, honest!). 

😭 Heck, I cried over the #Kia Super Bowl ad (linked in the comments).

1️⃣ First, men cry. Professionals cry. People who have it “all together” cry, or at least we should. 

Educated, polished, suit-wearing, white, middle-aged men with “Rev.” before their name–we MUST cry. And we must never shame others for doing likewise.
  
2️⃣ And second, if #depersonalization is one of the hallmarks of #burnout (and it is), then the return of my tears is a signal that my #burnoutrecovery is nearing completion. 

So, welcome back, crying Patrick. I’ve missed you. 

😭 And now I’m crying. 😆

#crying #tears

Join the conversation and see the links on LinkedIn: Click Here

Wellbeing programs

⚠️A warning about well-being programs: They can make burnout worse!

🩹There are studies that show positive results when wellbeing programs are introduced. But they aren't a bandage for deeper issues.

📚If you require your team to work unreasonably long hours with insufficient pay and support, don't hand them a gratitude journal.

😤They might throw it back at you!

Guilt for moral distress

😰 This still causes me guilt--and sometimes shame.

🙏🏽 Thank you to an attendee from yesterday's event at Parkview Health. She gave me a new perspective on the zero visitor policy that #hospitals enacted during the pandemic.

Groundhog Day

😂 Who remembers this movie? Extra points if you comment the name of the character in the hat.
📆It's Groundhog Day! If your job feels like this, you might be experiencing #burnout!

#groundhogday #groundhog #billmurray #roboticatwork

Bucket List Day!

🎉 Bucket list day!!

😁 I coach burned out professionals to create a bucket list. That might sound crazy. "I am emotionally exhausted, darkly cynical, and questioning the meaning of my life. And you want me to make a bucket list!?"

✅ Yes!

🤗 Why? Because it reminds us that we have value. It's okay to have desires and do more than just survive. Making a bucket list can also be a healthy distraction from occupational overwhelm. It shift my focus to joy, connection, and hope.

Ben Nemtin is an inspiration for many to overcome depression and listlessness by creating a bucket list. His hashtag#bucketlistjournal has inspired me.

🏀 Today I am crossing off another bucket list item as I recover from #workplaceburnout. Two of my adult children, Levi and Daniel Riecke, are traveling to Bloomington to see the Indiana University Men's Basketball team live in action.

☀ Looking forward to days like today brighten my spirit and remind me that I am more than just a job title.

🙏 Special thanks to Raymond Dusman, MD, MBA, a good friend who provided the tickets for us!

❓ What's on your bucket list? Comment below. Maybe someone will see your comment and help you check it off!

#onepercentmorehuman

Medicine, a hard pill to swallow

💊 "Everyone is taking something for their mental health these days."

But not me.

Nope, I made it to my mid-forties. I had never been depressed, anxious, or needed medication.

Until

At 44 years old, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety.

But strength, spirituality, and maturity were my shields. Despite my doctor's suggestion of an #SSRI, I was convinced I could navigate this without medication.

I was wrong.

Months later, after hitting my lowest point, I confronted the darkness within.

It was time to humble myself, and I called my doctor. That week marked the beginning of my journey with mental health medication – no quick fix, no instant relief, but a path to healing.

Admitting my need for help doesn't diminish my strength, spirituality, or maturity. In fact, it might be the bravest step I've ever taken. 💪

#MentalHealthJourney #BreakingTheStigma #StrengthInVulnerability

Agoraphobia

😶 I am still overcoming agoraphobia.

⚖ During the pandemic, when staying in became the norm, I found solace in the rules. Events were canceled, and I adhered more closely than most.

🎉 It was disheartening to witness others gathering and flouting guidelines while I was writing policies on crucial issues like scarce medical resource allocation.

Even as lockdowns lifted, healthcare maintained restrictions, and the sense of crisis persisted for me. COVID wasn't over. Daily stats (admissions, infections, and deaths) were a constant reminder.

😟 The cumulative effect of ongoing restrictions, moral distress, and burnout birthed a fear of leaving the house - agoraphobia took hold.

Some days, I managed; others, I sought refuge.

As I've said, depression is more than emotional; it's physical. Agoraphobia is no different. The anxiety is palpable. Kristen Riecke, an extrovert's extrovert, became my social support - not a new role in our 25-year marriage.

🤔 Before passing judgment on a colleague's "absence," consider the unseen battles they might be facing.

#mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #healthcareburnout #agoraphobia

A Sweet Suprise

I recently bid farewell to my incredible tenure at Parkview Health, and my colleague Lori Whitman orchestrated the sweetest surprise on my last day. 💖

For years, Lori, with a sprinkle of assistance from Jana Vastbinder, Brian Spahr, Jon Swanson, and others, curated a daily dose of inspiration known as the "Daily Dose Express." 💌

This daily ritual has been a beacon of encouragement for our hundreds of coworkers, and it holds a special place in my heart.

On October 26, my farewell day, Lori unearthed a forgotten quote of mine. It read:

"Who are you? When you stop answering that question with your job title, you are on the path to a happier life. You are not, primarily, a job code. You are a human; loved, infinite, creative, and unique. You are a fingerprint. The only 'you' that the world will ever know. Your job is just one of the current expressions of your ultimate self."

Little did I remember this gem, but Lori brought it back into my world at the perfect moment. 🌟 It resonated deeply with me as I closed this chapter of my career after over ten incredible years.

And yes, a tear or two may have escaped. 😢 Grateful for the memories, the lessons, and the amazing colleagues who made this journey unforgettable. Here's to new beginnings and cherishing the essence of our true selves! 🚀💕 #LifeBeyondJobTitles #GratitudeInGoodbye

Carle Health Nurse Wellbeing Event

Last week, I presented to a few hundred nurses Carle Health, thanks to the generosity of Diane Gottheil and the JOSH GOTTHEIL MEMORIAL FUND FOR LYMPHOMA RESEARCH.

Danielle Lawler, MSN, RN, CMSRN, and her team put together a great event for nurses to invest in their well-being, recovery, and resiliency.

Plus, the group was awesome. I followed a presentation by Cara Crumrine, who shared her burnout and self-care journey (awesome!).

Kudos to the team at Carle Health for investing in your most valuable resource--#Nurses!

#NurseAppreciation #Healthcareburnout #burnoutawareness #WellBeingMatters 💙👩‍⚕️🌟

School RN Trip

🔥 Burnout Alert! Which Industries Are Most Affected? 🔥

Ever wondered which industry has the highest burnout rate? It's the education sector. And right behind, in second place, is healthcare.

💬 Last week, I had the privilege of speaking with SCHOOL NURSES in Noblesville. The resonance was palpable. It's not cliche to say that we laughed and cried.

👩‍🏫 "Thank you for helping me name what's happening."

🌟 "Now I realize that burnout isn't my fault."

💙 "Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing your story."

It's time to address burnout head-on and support those on the front lines. Let's start the conversation! 💪🌟

Oh, and I took my 15 y/o with me. A little Top Golf never hurt anyone.

#BurnoutAwareness #Education #Healthcare #WellbeingInWork #topgolf #bucketlist

New Adventure

🗣 In fifth grade, my class had to memorize and deliver Patrick Henry's speech "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!" 💪

My friends hated the assignment—scared to death of public speaking 😨, but I was thrilled. Not only did I enthusiastically deliver the speech, I mimed Henry's action (stabbing himself for effect) 🗡️, and collapsed on my friend Landon's desk 😅.

Since that day, I knew God made me (in part) for public speaking 🎙️.

All of my jobs incorporated speaking and teaching. But now, I am all in.

After ten years in healthcare and twenty-five years in ministry, I am now a full-time speaker, writer, and consultant.

🌟 What do I do?

I make difficult conversations easier for people in helping professions.

In healthcare, my team responded to more than 15,000 deaths, and I've published three non-fiction books about death, dying, and grief. I speak on this topic because dying and grieving people deserve to be treated right. #griefawareness 🕊️

During my tenure, I navigated 500 ethics consults. I taught nurses medical ethics for years, and now I am a professor at Indiana University School of Medicine, teaching ethical decision-making. I speak on this topic because providers deserve support when they face their most difficult cases. #medicalethics 👩‍⚕️

In the fall of 2022, I burned out at work. My body, mind, and spirit gave out. I was depressed and anxious and under the care of multiple doctors. Something had to change. I speak on this topic to help organizations curb burnout and individuals recover from their own experiences. #healthcareburnout 🔥

I am excited (and a little scared) about this new adventure. 🚀

I quit!

📣 Announcement!

📓 This week, I close a chapter. 📅 My last day at Parkview Health is this Thursday, October 26.

🎭 After more than ten years, I feel many mixed emotions.

🙏 However, my primary feeling is one of deep gratitude.

I have worked with some amazing people and had some great leaders (Ben Miles, Ann Lantz, and Curtis Smith to name a few).

🙏 I can't begin to list every opportunity I had while at Parkview, serving as the Director of Dignity and the Ethics Chairperson. All I can do is reflect. And be thankful.

When coworkers learned about my departure, many sent kind notes. Sifting through them last night, I discovered themes to their compliments. They were primarily thankful for my 1) Support, 2) Compassion, and 3) Calm approach.

Here's the kicker.

👥 Anyone can display these characteristics. I didn't need special talents or training to be supportive, kind, or calm.

📢 What's next? I will be speaking and writing more than ever.

#Burnoutawareness, #Medicalethics, and #Griefsupport are the topics I am passionate about, and I can't wait to raise awareness about each of these topics.

Thank you, Parkview.

"And in case I don't see you; good afternoon, good evening, and good night." -Truman Burbank 😆

The humbling observation made by an attendee

🤔 "As a pastor, did your own hubris make it more difficult to identify your burnout symptoms?"

🙌 At a recent keynote in Memphis, an attendee got straight to the point with this question.

I stood up straight and looked past her for a moment.

😔 "Did my excessive self-confidence hinder self-awareness?" I rephrased her question.

"Perhaps," I said. "But not in the common sense. I've never been a pray-it-away person. Or a name-it-and-claim-it adherent to the #prosperitygospel. However, I subtly believed I was superior to people who have mental health concerns like depression, anxiety, and burnout. So, to answer your question with one word...

👀 YES

I am not alone.

Doctors and nurses can also play hashtag#healthcarehero and forget their own vulnerability.

🆔 These roles enmesh with professionals' sense of identity.

#Physicians are smart.

#Nurses are strong.

#Clergy are caring people.

But what if my smarts don't solve all the problems? Or my strength gives way to exhaustion. Or others take advantage of my caring nature?

😥 What if the helpers get depressed? Anxious? Burned out?

As our friends in AA know, the first step is admitting you have a problem. Recognizing the symptoms of burnout is a shockingly difficult task. Nearly impossible until we can no longer ignore it.

💓 I didn't recognize my burnout until I was cardioverted (shocked) in the Emergency Room at Parkview Health to reset my heart.

Then, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety.

Online tests for burnout are varied and sometimes costly. However, online tests for depression and anxiety are easier to find. I recommend using the tools found on Mental Health America's site.

This week, I spoke twice for the Renal Healthcare Association at Peabody Hotels and Resorts in Memphis, TN.

The audience engaged wonderfully and was kind for two hours. And far and away, the reviews said that my vulnerability, and sharing my story, meant the most to them. 🙌❤️

Therefore, I will practice being vulnerable and honest about how #healthcareburnout has affected me. Hopefully, others will feel seen and encouraged, knowing they are not alone.

❓ Have you ever experienced burnout? How did you recognize it? Share your thoughts and experiences below. Let's start a conversation on #SelfCare and #MentalHealthAwareness.

Renal Healthcare Association Annual Conference—Memphis, TN

🌟 Exploring Ethical Dilemmas & Burnout in Renal Healthcare 🌟

Renal healthcare professionals navigate complex ethical dilemmas while often battling workplace burnout.

🏥 From nephrologists to nurses, they administer not only dialysis and meds, but compassion and discernment.

But, let's address the challenges:

💔 Ethical Dilemmas: Who is a candidate for care? Who decides when the burdens outweigh the benefits? These are heart-wrenching decisions.

🔥 Workplace Burnout: The relentless demands and emotionally taxing situations can lead to emotional exhaustion.

🌱 Solutions: Together, we can make a difference.

Join me at the Renal Healthcare Association annual conference in Memphis at the Peabody Hotel this week, where I'll discuss these critical topics.

https://lnkd.in/gCv75bXG

🤝 Let's advocate, educate, and recognize the invaluable work of renal healthcare teams. Together, we'll make a positive impact!

#RenalHealthcare #EthicalDilemmas #WorkplaceBurnout #HealthcareHeroes #Nephrology #RHA2023

School nurse conference

🩺👩‍⚕️ School Nurses are unsung heroes! 💪

🌟 It's crucial to address a topic that's close to my heart (and affects a staggering number of school nurses - Workplace Burnout. These dedicated professionals are a vital part of our education system, tirelessly caring for our children's health and well-being. 📚👧👦

🔥 Burnout is a real concern, and it's time we shine a light on it. 🕯️

🗓️ Mark your calendars for November 15th when I have the privilege of delivering a Keynote at the INDIANA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL NURSES INC conference at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Noblesville Indianapolis Conference Center. 🎙️🌐

Together, we'll delve into the challenges faced by school nurses and explore strategies to help them thrive in their roles.

Let's come together to support and empower these incredible caregivers. 🤗💼

Join me at the conference, and let's make a difference! 🤝 Check out all the details and register here:

Conference Event Page: https://lnkd.in/gRbQGQwN

#SchoolNurses #Burnout #Empowerment #IAmHereForYou #KeynoteSpeaker #INASNConference #HealthcareHeroes 💙💊

Nurse Wellbeing

🎉 I am excited to share that I'm presenting a Keynote for Carle Health's nurse wellbeing conference!

📈 Nurse burnout rates are incredibly high--with most studies showing a greater than 50% rate.

😢 When clinicians are burned out, it affects us all.

😑 The moral distress they experience can leave them feeling numb and hopeless.

😀 But it doesn't have to be that way! There are steps organizations can take to avoid burnout in the workforce. And steps burned-out coworkers can take to recover.

📢 I will share these steps and more with nurses at Carle Health later this year, thanks to the invitation of Danielle Lawler, MSN, RN, CMSRN, and her team.

#burnoutrecovery #nursewellness #keynotespeaker

One year after crashing

Labor Day 2022

I woke up with a strange feeling--like my heart was skipping beats over and over.

For years, I had been under considerable stress.

In 2020, I led our ethics committee as we hastily made preparations for the global pandemic. I led our chaplain team, which responded to 5,563 deaths during the pandemic.

2021 was a year of death and grief. Kristen Riecke's sweet dad died. Our good friend Bre died during childbirth just down the hall from my office at Parkview Health. And several other family members died before July arrived.

In 2022, I experienced my worst leadership struggles to date, and my leader at the time threatened to fire me. I didn't know it yet, but my anxiety was starting to drive the car, and I was along for the ride.

This resulted in new physical and mental health problems. "Vagally-mediated Atrial Fibrillation" Meaning that stress had compromised my nervous system so badly that my heart was out of rhythm. This is actually pretty common.

So, in the ER on Labor Day 2022, I received 255.1 joules of electric shock. Without sedation (my choice).

I was wide awake when the doctor said, "Charging. Clear. Clear." Then, whoosh!

My arms and legs shot up off the bed, my teeth slammed together, my eyes widened beyond capacity, and my belly jumped toward the ceiling. My heart returned to a sinus rhythm.

In the coming months, I experienced 30+ days on a heart monitor, a shaved chest (yuck), therapy, an official depression and anxiety diagnosis from my doctor, but most profoundly...

The sense that something had to change. Everything had to change.

In the 12 months since that day, here are SOME of the many steps I have taken to recover and overcome what I now know as MORAL DISTRESS and BURNOUT:

1. Secured intermittent FMLA

2. Daily nervous system work (thank you Sukie Baxter)

3. Decreased focus and intensity at work

4. Meditation

5. Worked on my bucket list (thank you, Ben Nemtin)

6. Adjusted my expectations of myself

7. Journaled 2-3x per week

8. Counseling (thank you, Cheryl Confer)

9. Committed to new boundaries (no more checking work email at all hours)

10. Regular walks

11. Self-discovery (thank you, Enneagram)

12. Opened up with trusted friends (thank you, William Curry, Matt Burke, Jana Vastbinder, Jon Swanson, and Kristen Riecke)

13. And I (finally) started some medication for my mental health

They say that recovery from burnout takes 1-3 years. Today, I have been in recovery for one year. I am not done.

hashtag#mentalhealthawareness hashtag#burnoutrecovery hashtag#burnout

10 years in one place

In June 2023, I celebrated 10 years at Parkview Health.

These are the top seven lessons I've learned in my first ten years in healthcare. ⬇️

🌎1. The world is a much more complicated place than I originally thought.

🛐2. Changing your beliefs in light of new experiences is a sign of maturity, not weakness.

💁🏻‍♂️3. Empowering others is more fun than your own success.

🏅4. Work isn't a family. It's a team. That's better and more healthy.

💓5. Believing the best in people will enable some coworkers to soar, and others to fall.

🧑🏻‍🏭6. If you really believe in something, don't take 'no' for an answer. Find another way.

👩🏼‍💼7. Executives put their pants on one leg at a time. Don't be intimidated by big titles. Instead, help them. They have a tough job.

Thank you, Ann Lantz and Jeannine Nix for hiring me, Ben Miles, Curtis Smith, Dena Jacquay, and Sarah GiaQuinta, MD for leading me, and Kristen Riecke and Daniel Riecke for supporting me.

There are too many coworkers to tag, but special shoutout to Jon Swanson for seldom agreeing with me, but always helping me to become better.

#healthcare #tenyears #leadershipskills #healthcareleadership