How can your brain prevent burnout?

How can your brain prevent burnout?

It’s no secret that the profession of a doctor often goes hand in hand with excessive work pressure and symptoms of burnout. The many patients for whose health they are responsible, making complex decisions, and the lack of a good work-life balance can become too much. This was also the case at Amsterdam University Medical Centers (UMC). Young doctors in training to become specialists (AIOS) experienced more than just “healthy stress”. We take you along BrainsFirst’s contribution to helping the AIOS mitigate this stress.

The intuitive solution to excessive stress is lessening work pressure and reducing working hours. However, this is not as realistic for doctors, though continuing with the same circumstances is not sustainable either. While it may not be possible to change your work, it is possible to change how you work. Doctors usually work long, full days, which often comes with negative consequences. Since the doctors at Amsterdam UMC experienced exactly that, they decided to collaborate with BrainsFirst in 2020. Together, we conducted a study on the implications of brain-based coaching in relation to workstress.

The NeurOlympics as a compass

The first step in our study was to have all participating AIOS take our cognitive assessment. This assessment—the NeurOlympics—consists of four games that measure the executive brain functions. That means, we measure how well you can anticipate, adapt, plan, focus, and decide, to name a few. These qualities can be mapped more objectively and therefore more trustworthy by gaming than by answering questions about yourself.

Based on the results, the AIOS received their own Brain Profiles that give insights into their cognitive skills, both what they naturally excel in and what comes harder for them. Together with an organizational psychologist, they adjusted their work schedules in accordance with their brains' preferences.

An optimistic prospect

After working with their adjusted schedules for about five months, it seemed that the development of exhaustion symptoms was slowed down in AIOS who received brain-based coaching from the organizational psychologist compared to AIOS who did not. In the long term, the development of symptoms was even reversed: AIOS who worked with their new, adjusted schedules experienced less exhaustion than before.

The participating AIOS spoke very positively about their results:

“Together with the psychologist, I quickly found the core of my behavioral change question. I immediately started implementing the tips from the report and noticed I work more efficiently.”

“If it weren’t for the interventions, I think I would be at home with a burnout.”

And this enthusiasm wasn’t just for the immediate effects. One AIOS highlighted the lasting effects of his newly gained insights:

“I’ve gained a lot more insight into my functioning. A real eye opener. Even just because of the ‘games’ at the start. This, and the conversations with the coach, made me work much more efficiently and targeted. I know how to handle myself.”

What does this mean for the future of work?

The burnout statistics in the Netherlands have been on the rise for years. In most cases, the causes and symptoms are very clear, which means we could intervene before they progress to a burnout. Using cognitive insights from BrainsFirst the way Amsterdam UMC did, shows that preventive measures can definitely be taken—even in a profession as stressful as a doctor. Take the example of the AIOS: get to know your brain and work more efficiently.