How to protect yourself from burnout at work

Kandi Wiens nearly died from stress a dozen years ago. She was juggling work and family while getting a PhD and was not paying attention to her body’s physical and emotional distress signals. She was the first in her family to go to college and was caught in a high pressure cycle of perfectionism, overwork, self-doubt and people-pleasing. The doctor ordered bed rest which became a wake up call.

Burnout is a serious workplace problem which can sneak up on you, leaving you feeling depleted, dispirited, anxious and cynical. It can also make you physically ill like Kandi Wiens. She is director of the University of Pennsylvania Master’s in Medical Education Program and a nationally known burnout researcher.

She says while burnout is on the rise, there are many things you can do to reduce and manage the most harmful effects. Her new book is titled Burnout Immunity: How Emotional Intelligence Can Help You Build Resilience and Heal Your Relationship with Work.