Episode 276: Burnout and Building Resilience with Gary Simonds

When you’re in the midst of burnout, it can be difficult to recognize the signs and take action. Things may feel the same, but with a depleted amount of overall energy to take on what you normally would. So how can we learn to recognize the signs of burnout? And how can we build resilience in the process?
 
 Joining us today to discuss this complex topic is Dr. Gary Simonds, who, for the past 14 years, has immersed himself in the study of burnout and building resilience. He’s the author of three books on the subject, namely, Building Resilience in Neurosurgical Residents, The Thriving Physician, and Thriving in Healthcare. 
 
Having spent the bulk of his career as a neurosurgeon, Dr. Simonds is no stranger to the toll that this type of work can take on healthcare workers. Tuning in you’ll hear him expand on the nature of burnout, why it can be so difficult to recognize, and what we can do to build resilience. To hear his insights on this complicated subject, and his advice on how to address it, be sure to tune in today!

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

• Why burnout isn’t a binary condition, but rather, exists on a spectrum.
• Indicators of burnout that Dr. Simonds learned to recognize in his peers.
• A breakdown of how burnout affected his team.
• How he helped them build resilience in weekly meetings over many months.
• The transformative impact that building resilience had on his team.
• Why repetition, consistency, and offering a range of methods are key to building resilience.
• Unpacking the impact the COVID pandemic had on the healthcare industry.
• What you can do to combat burnout at an individual level in the absence of systemic reforms.
• Training students to deliver compassionate care with resilience.
• Why finding meaning in your work acts as an antidote to burnout.
• How being resilient can have a positive effect on the resilience of others.
• Dr. Simonds's foray into fiction and how he got the idea for his book Death’s Pale Flag.
• The courage, grace, and humanity of his patients and their families (and why they never fail to inspire him).

Transcript: Here

Additional Resources:

Website: https://garyrsimonds.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-simonds-5b0225a/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garyrsimonds/

X: https://twitter.com/garyrsimonds

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/garyrsimonds

Sharon Spano:

Website: sharonspano.com

Facebook: facebook.com/SharonSpanoPHD

Instagram: instagram.com/drsharonspano/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sharonspano/

Book: thetimemoneybook.com

Contact: sharon@sharonspano.com

X: twitter.com/SharonSpano

The Other Side of Potential Podcast: sharonspano.com/podcast/