The Formula for Change: Anesthesia Burnout – Part 2 of 4

There is a formula I use to effectively describe coaching that also follows the process for creating sustainable change. The formula is awareness + conscious choice leads to inspired action – and when we are taking actions we consciously choose, we can create transformation in our lives.

We’ll begin with awareness. Without awareness, change is not possible. Yet, awareness is not enough. Once we’ve identified the change or changes we want to make, we must make conscious choices about the actions we’ll take to create those changes. I call them inspired actions because they are created out of choice and awareness. Successful implementation of inspired actions consistently over time leads to transformation. We leave behind old patterns and choices that don’t serve our values, goals, and priorities in favor of actions that generate desirable outcomes.

When we are seeking to change, it helps to keep in mind the following:

• Human beings do better when they have a plan.
• We succeed more often when we have clear goals, strategies, support, and accountability.
• Small changes over time create the most sustainable changes.
• The plan must always begin with a focus on transforming stress.
• If a client can form a “bad” habit, they can just as easily form a “good” one.

What kind of plan do you currently have in place to ensure you are investing in maintaining or increasing your own wellbeing? It’s not uncommon to have let this slide with the busyness of life in anesthesia. So, start with something simple:

1. What is one thing (a situation, relationship, task, or thought) that creates stress frequently for you? (Example: I consistently work far beyond my shift, then feel angry with myself for putting my personal needs aside.)
2. What is one action you can take this week to reduce that stress? (Example: I will commit to completing my shift on time at least one time more often than I typically do in a week.)
3. How will you feel when you accomplish this goal? (Example: I will feel like I am taking better care of me so I can avoid burnout or being short on patience with others.)
4. Which personal values will that honor? (Example: I can show up at my best for others, both at work and in my personal life, when I take care of myself.)
5. How will you remember to take this action? (Example: schedule it or set an alarm) “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
   – Aristotle