Since the onset of burnout tends to be insidious, it’s helpful to recognise the early warning signs so that you can take action before it’s too late. You can use this simple test, and explore how many symptoms of burnout you are experiencing right now.
If you would like to understand more about burnout, compassion fatigue or work-related stress, you can follow this Link. When you recognize the early warning signs, it’s much easier to take preventive action and ensure and avoid heading down the slippery slope towards burnout.
If you work in health or social care, or another helping profession, and are concerned about how your work is affecting your wellbeing, I encourage you to complete the Professional Quality of Life (PROQOL) self-assessment. The 30 questions in this validated questionnaire will measure your compassion satisfaction and the two components of compassion fatigue:
burnout and secondary trauma. Your scores will also help indicate if you might benefit from seeking professional help.
If you work in health, social care, or another helping profession, or you are a student in training, the following Inventory will help you assess, and then reflect on, your personal and professional resiliency as well as levels of personal and professional self-care. It will also help direct you towards the areas of your life that need most attention.
This Inventory was developed by Thomas Skovholt, PhD, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota, and co-author the book The Resilient Practitioner (now in its 3rd edition). He has developed a comprehensive understanding of ‘relationship-intense’ professions where the welfare of the client, patient, student, advisee, mentee, or member of religious community etc. is primary, and the potential impact of working with those who are suffering or in need.
