How Do You Know if You’re Burned Out? A Guide for Physicians

An earlier version of this article was published on this website in April 2023.

Physician burnout may be out of the headlines, but it’s not a thing of the past. During the COVID-19 pandemic, burnout levels reached record highs, affecting more than 60 percent of physicians. While the pandemic is behind us, burnout rates remain stubbornly elevated.

Today, nearly half of physicians still report symptoms of burnout. That’s well above the pre-pandemic baseline of about 38 percent in 2020.

And even though the topic is no longer taboo, many physicians still find themselves wondering: Am I burned out? Or is this something else?

The challenge is that burnout isn’t always easy to recognize. This matters, because naming a problem is often the first step towards taking action. If you can’t name it, it’s harder to change it.

In the sections that follow, we’ll explore who’s most affected, how burnout is defined, the hidden costs, and a few simple ways to assess whether burnout may be affecting you.

Where Burn-Out Hits Hardest

Burnout hits physicians across the spectrum, but topping the list of burnout-inducing specialties are

💉Emergency Medicine

💉Family Medicine

💉OB-GYN

💉Pediatrics

💉Internal Medicine

💉Hospital medicine

Although burnout has decreased in all of these groups over the past several years, more than 40 percent of doctors surveyed in these specialties still report classic symptoms of burnout.

Why Burnout Matters

Not only is burnout demoralizing, but it has real consequences for physicians, patients, and the healthcare system.

Burnout has been linked to:

🔥 Increased physician turnover

🔥 Rising healthcare costs

🔥 Lower job satisfaction

🔥 Higher risk of medical errors

A 2019 study reported a conservative yearly cost of burnout to the US healthcare system of $4.6 billion dollars.

Is Burnout Just a Feeling?

Burnout is often misunderstood.

It’s easy to assume that burnout is simply a matter of stress management—or even a failure of resilience. But that’s not the case.

In fact, physicians tend to demonstrate higher levels of resilience than the general population, yet they also experience greater rates of burnout. While resilience is associated with lower burnout, even highly resilient physicians are not immune.

That’s because burnout is not a personal weakness or a failure to keep up. It’s not a mental illness that needs treatment. Burnout reflects a mismatch between the demands of the work and the resources available to meet those demands.

So how do you know if you're burned out?
❓ A. Is it just a feeling?
❓ B. Is it something we can measure?

If you answered B, you're right. Burnout isn’t just a vague feeling of unhappiness or a trending term. There are standardized tools to measure burnout. The most widely used assessment is the Maslach Burnout Inventory, which has been used in research and clinical settings since 1981.

You’re never too old— or too young. Burnout affects physicians across all career stages and ages, including residents and fellows. If you’re experiencing burnout, it’s important to understand that burnout is not your fault, and you’re not alone. Here’s what you need to know:

What Burnout Actually Means

According to the World Health Organization and the ICD-11, burnout results "from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed." That means that it is considered an occupational phenomenon, not a mental illness.

Symptoms of burnout include:

🚫 feelings of low energy or exhaustion
🚫 negative feelings or cynicism about your job
🚫 loss of motivation and a sense of detachment from work

Check In with Yourself

If you're wondering whether you're experiencing burnout or simply going through a difficult period, you could complete the Maslach Burnout Inventory.

Or you could start with something simpler. Productivity researcher Chris Bailey created a Two-Minute Burnout Inventory that offers a quick way to assess your current stress and burnout level. Even this short self-assessment can help you recognize patterns you may have been ignoring.

If You’re Burned Out, Don’t Struggle Alone

Burnout can feel isolating, but it can help to know that you’re not alone. Many physicians are facing the same challenges.

There is growing recognition that systemic changes in healthcare are essential to address physician burnout. That includes fundamental changes to the EHR along with better support for physicians’ focus, attention, and workflow. Encouragingly, many healthcare systems and professional organizations are beginning to take this issue more seriously. But systemic change takes time.

In the meantime, taking steps to support your own well-being is essential. Your health, your relationships, and your patients all depend on it.

Coaching can be one helpful strategy. Studies, including a randomized controlled trial published in 2024, have shown that professional coaching can significantly reduce physician burnout and improve well-being. Through coaching, physicians can clarify their priorities, set meaningful boundaries, and explore practical ways to align their work with their time, energy, and professional goals.

Finding Your Way Forward

There are no easy answers to the complex challenges facing healthcare today. But understanding your own values, priorities, and needs can help you navigate the path forward.

Burnout may feel overwhelming when you’re in the midst of it, but gaining clarity about your priorities, your time, and how you want to work can help you take intentional steps toward a more sustainable and fulfilling career and life.

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