Burnout

I can tell that increasing burnout I feel

But I have to tackle this alone, I cannot reveal

To anyone around me the degree to which I am affected

To some extent I wonder if this burnout is self-inflicted

By my being a perfectionist, by not walking away

From unpleasant situations or interactions on a given day

By not carving enough time to pursue other interests

By not giving my body and mind adequate rest..

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The burnout that I feel is fueled by

Loss of autonomy, the inability to question why

I have to check more corporate boxes than actual patients treat

Patient care is not a task I can automatically do on repeat

The fifteen minutes allotted for a patient encounter are not enough

To spend another fifteen minutes of personal time per patient is tough

So how do I get adequate rest, pursue other interests

When my free time in documentation I have to invest?

The mandatory training modules encroach on my day

From productive work, they take my time away

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But if I share this with anyone, most likely I would receive

A laundry list of things to do that are believed

To help with burnout- however such advice

Would likely make me feel that burnout is a vice

I am also afraid of being perceived as weak

Therefore advice from friends I try not to seek

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As I said, burnout is an issue that I have to face

All by myself, there is no safe space

To talk about it, it is a silent burden to bear

While I learn techniques for self-preservation and self-care