In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, many doctors and other healthcare workers feel exhausted. A survey from the Mayo Clinic Proceedings Journal published in 2022 found that 62.8% of physicians reported symptoms of burnout at work.

As a doctor in this position, you might ask how to prevent physician burnout. A heart-centered approach to health and wellness can have meaningful and long-lasting benefits for physicians, their patients, and their practices.

Staying passionate about your practice starts with your health and well-being. Physicians should practice self-care to care for their patients properly. Nutrition, exercise, stress management, and getting proper sleep can ensure your basic health needs are met. 

However, some lesser-known heart-centered ways of staying healthy can significantly impact you physically and emotionally and help you avoid burnout.

Here are some heart-centered ways to prevent physician burnout you can work into your practice and share with patients:

Focus on Gratitude

With the stress from practicing medicine, it can be easy to take your practice for granted. 

Refocusing your thoughts toward gratitude can help you appreciate what you have instead of focusing on what you think you may lack.

Studies have shown that practicing gratitude has physical and mental health benefits that can have a lasting impact, including increased happiness and reduced toxic emotions. [1] 

Cultivating gratitude can help you feel more satisfied with your practice. Gratitude can enhance empathy, improving your patient relationship. Practicing this doesn’t have to take a lot of time. Simply saying “thank you” can positively impact mental and physical health. [2] 

Journaling is another easy way to work gratitude into your daily routine. Taking a few minutes each day to pause and write down what you are grateful for can help you focus on the positive aspects of your life and medical practice.

Practice Heart-Centered Guided Meditation

Meditation is becoming an increasingly common wellness practice as many recognize its health benefits. In fact, between 2012 and 2017, meditation use among adults jumped from 4.1 percent to 14.2 percent. [3]

Research has shown meditation is a proven means to enhance general well-being. It can reduce stress and the health problems that result from it, as well as control anxiety and help manage depression. Meditation can also contribute to better sleeping habits essential to overall health. [4] It may even help manage symptoms of conditions such as cancer, chronic pain, high blood pressure, and irritable bowel syndrome. [5]

While there are many types, practicing heart-centered meditation can have significant physical and emotional benefits. This type of meditation emphasizes healing and opening the heart. 

The SENS Solution podcast episode Meditation & Mindfulness with retired Navy SEAL Commander, Jon Macaskill, is a great resource for providing powerful tools for coping with stress and anxiety. Another helpful episode on this topic is Meditation and Proactive Mental Health with Stephen Sokoler, CEO and Founder of Journey Meditation. 

Not only can practicing heart-centered meditation help to generate kindness and compassion, but studies have also shown it can reduce the risk of heart disease. [6]

Putting the Heart Back into Your Practice with a Concierge Model 

Each year, more doctors change to concierge practices to put the heart back into their practices. 

A concierge model can help physicians maintain work-life balance and professional autonomy. This model allows you to focus on developing better relationships with patients to get more satisfaction from your practice.

Fill out the form below and learn more about preventing physician burnout and putting your heart back into your practice with a concierge model.