According to an ASCO-sponsored study of burnout and career satisfaction among U.S. oncologists, 44.7% of surveyed oncologists reported feeling symptoms of burnout. ASCO offers information, practical advice, and member perspectives on how to prevent and manage burnout and prioritize wellness in your work and life. Some tips are below. For more information and resources to help avoid and manage burnout, visit connection.ASCO.org/career-guidance.
Advice for Beating Burnout and Maintaining Wellness
First, it’s important to understand what burnout is and be able to recognize the hallmark symptoms. Burnout is not your fault as an individual, and feeling burned out is not a reflection of your strength, skills, or capability.
Then you can take steps to maintain your own well-being, in big ways and small ones:
- Acknowledge the emotional toll of working in oncology.
- When you start to feel burned out, take steps to address your feelings.
- Pursue creative and humanistic activities that you enjoy, including narrative oncology.
- Set meaningful goals rather than chasing career milestones.
- Use meditation and mindfulness techniques to manage stress.
- Understand how your emotional quotient affects how you experience burnout.
- Be a physician wellness champion on your team and pay attention to team wellness.
- Practice resilience during training and during difficult professional times and consider undertaking resilience skills training with your team.
- Consider the difference between resilience and stamina.
- Start a conversation with a colleague or supervisor about burnout.
- Change your attitude about stress.
- Get your email inbox under control and manage Zoom fatigue.
- Prioritize your well-being and make self-care a habit.
- Be fully present with friends and loved ones.
- Take a vacation (and don’t make it a working holiday).
Reprinted with permission. ASCO Connection. October 28, 2024. © 2024. American Society of Clinical Oncology.
