Are You Toast?

Burnout is an occupational hazard for professional caregivers of all types. Because burnout is an "overdraft" of your emotional checking account, a vacation rarely solves the apathy and unhealthy detachment.

Are you comfortably at room temperature or a little crispy around the edges? Answer these 10 questions and find out. Assign a point value to your answers:

Strongly Agree = 10 points
Mostly Agree = 7 points
Disagree = 3 points
Strongly Disagree = 0 points

1. I find myself feeling fatigued or tired at the end of the day.

2. When I wake up after getting a good night's sleep, I still feel tired or have a sense of dread in the pit of my stomach.

3. I’m often a few minutes late, or arrive at the office about the same time as the first appointment of the day.

4. It's been awhile since I regularly exercised and I'm not in the same shape I was when I started practice.

5. It seems like each day I get further behind with my paperwork and attaining my goals.

6. I’m more irritable and less understanding with patients, who these days, seem to be the real problem in my practice.

7. I spend less time with my family and friends and often feel like I'm "just going through the motions."

8. I should be accomplishing more and be further ahead by now.

9. I’m spending more time with television or using sex, drugs, food, alcohol or some other diversion to make me feel better about my situation.

10. I’ve even given some thought to other things I could do besides working in chiropractic.

SCORING:

Cool
0-15 points
Either you don't practice with humans or you've really got your act together. Congratulations!

Calm
16-50 points
You’re doing great and quite healthy. With yourself so clearly grounded, you're unlikely to suffer from burnout.

Crispy
51-80 points
You may be flirting with burnout or in its clutches. It’s critical that you establish clear boundaries and upgrade your lifestyle because full-fledged burnout is around the corner.

Charred
86-100 points
It’s amazing you had the energy to add up your score! Your pain is the result of investing your life spirit in outcomes you can’t control.

If you'd like more insights and some practical actions steps, consider participation in The Conversation.

This 30-day program consists of 12 emailed assignments and journaling exercises, followed by a weekend debrief in Denver, CO with no more than nine other chiropractors. It may be just the thing to help you recover your life! Read what participants say.