Burnout is prevalent in dentistry. According to a survey carried out by Dental Protection, around two thirds (63%) of dental professionals are frequently burnt out and exhausted. Burnout and how to deal with it were the subject of a recent Practice Plan webinar. Here, one of the participants, practice owner and CEO of Better Mental Wealth, Ritesh (Rick) Aggrawal, shares some advice for those experiencing burnout.
What Is Burnout?
My simple definition of burnout is feeling completely drained physically, mentally, and emotionally due to prolonged stress. The World Health Organisation classifies burnout as an occupational phenomenon. However, I would argue that our personal and professional lives are deeply intertwined and so stress can stem from both. Stress is no respecter of boundaries.
The Maslach Burnout Inventory, a tool to assess burnout, breaks it into three components:
- Emotional exhaustion: Feeling depleted and unable to give more
- Depersonalisation: Developing cynicism or detachment from work and relationships
- Reduced personal accomplishment: Feeling ineffective, unproductive, or incompetent.
Recognising the signs
The symptoms of burnout can be physical, emotional, and behavioural.
Physical symptoms include exhaustion, sleep disturbances such as insomnia or sleeping too much, changes in appetite such as undereating or overeating, headaches and so on.
Emotional symptoms could include irritability, a sense of helplessness, frustration and anger.
Behavioural: Withdrawing from others, adopting unhealthy coping mechanisms (such as alcohol, avoidance), and reduced tolerance.
Burnout can sometimes lead to a “straw that broke the camel’s back” moment, where a seemingly minor issue can trigger a disproportionate reaction. As well as the individual, these can affect other members of the team as well as personal relationships. Worse still, they may even impinge upon patient care.
Why people hide it
Practice principals or leaders often feel the need to mask their struggles and put on a brave face for the sake of the team. I used to believe that I had to be the “pillar” of my practice, taking on everyone’s problems. I now know better, and I champion authentic leadership, which includes being vulnerable. Far from being a weakness, showing vulnerability and letting people see your human side, helps to create psychological safety and fosters an environment where others feel safe to speak up too.
Broaching the subject with someone who might be struggling
Empathy and active listening are important when approaching someone you suspect may be experiencing burnout. Many people listen to respond, rather than to understand and that can be unhelpful. Approaching someone from a place of care, without judgment, can make all the difference. Active listening may not come naturally but it’s an important skill to learn. Try:
- Asking twice, not just once. It’s harder for someone to give a glib response if you ask them how they are more than once
- Listening without formulating a response
- Give your full attention
- Repeat back what you’ve heard to check understanding and to demonstrate you have listened.
These small actions can open the door to meaningful conversations and early intervention to nip things in the bud.
The road to recovery
The first step to recovery is to acknowledge burnout. Being able to do that is great because you can start to improve from then on. Recovering from burnout may take some time so patience is important.
The following steps can help recovery and stave off a recurrence:
- Set small, achievable goals: Try to establish a repeatable habit such as taking a daily short walk or journaling
- Celebrate small wins: Recognise progress, no matter how small the steps
- Prioritise rest: Consider taking up yoga, meditation, or simply sitting quietly
- Make a list: Write down everything that’s weighing upon you, then categorise and prioritise things. Tools such as the Eisenhower Matrix can help bring clarity to your thinking.
Healthy eating and hydration are also important as are safe spaces, and support systems. Everyone needs a person to whom they can talk openly such as a coach, counsellor, or a trusted colleague. Make sure you have someone like that in your work or home life.
The importance of personalisation
Not every strategy works for everyone. While I appreciate the value of mindfulness, it doesn’t work for me, whereas a round of golf does. The key is to find something that works for you. That could be running, journaling, or simply being in nature as long as it’s something that helps take your mind off things, that’s great.
If you can feel yourself sliding towards overwhelm, remember, not every thought is real, and not every emotion needs acting upon. By taking a moment to pause before reacting you can conserve energy and reduce overwhelm.
Preventing Burnout
Experiencing burnout is not inevitable. To help guard against succumbing to it you could:
- Set boundaries: Learn to say no and protect your time. You don’t have to be everything to everyone
- Delegate: Many dentists are guilty of perfectionism which can make them reluctant to delegate. Accept that 70% of your standard might be good enough
- Reconnect with your purpose: Reflect on why you do what you do and how it aligns with your values
- Foster relationships: Build support networks both inside and outside of work
- Create a mentally healthy culture: Encourage open conversations and shared responsibility within your team.
Rather than just having one person, such as a Mental Health First Aider (MHFA), looking out for everyone’s mental wellbeing, your whole team would benefit from mental health education. It helps if everyone has the basic knowledge and tools to support themselves and others. This is why we created a 10-hour CPD module on this on our platform.
Burnout is complex, but recovery and prevention don’t have to be. Keep it simple, be kind to yourself, and take one step at a time. Whether you’re a practice owner, team member, or someone quietly struggling, it’s important to remember you’re not alone, and help is available.
