Burnout is a state of mental and physical exhaustion brought about by a work environment that one finds stressful. To avoid or recover from burnout, it is essential to identify the source of stress: in some situations, this will be straightforward; in others, it may call for a good deal of introspection (and the Five Whys technique may help). Generic strategies are to get plenty of exercise and enough sleep; focus on what one can change (and identify appropriate targets and vehicles for what concerns one may have); practice positive and yin-yang (or integrative) thinking; say no, politely; remember to self-care; reassess goals to find the right meaning in one's work; know one's limits; and accept what clear signs (or other interests) demonstrate (or suggest) it is time to move on.

How frequently can one move on?

Of course, how frequently people move on is a function of the country (and gross domestic product, including per capita), sector, industry, occupation, age range, family circumstances, etc. but a few statistics cast light. On average, the average worker in the United Kingdom changes jobs every 5 years; in the United States, he/she moves every 4 years. (Looking at historical trends, 4–5 years is a short period: in the 1950s–1970s, for instance, workers in such countries would join an organization and stay there for life—or at least decades; people valued jobs and financial security above all.) But the Millennials—born between 1982 and 1999—change jobs on average once every 2–3 years and will have had four different careers in their lifetime. As Millennials rise in the workplace (with expectations to continuously learn, develop, and advance in their careers), the old stigma that frequently changing jobs looks bad on a résumé because it tells recruiters you cannot commit, hold down a job, or get along with colleagues is becoming antiquated.

PS: As long ago as 1989, in the book titled The Age of Unreason, Charles Handy wrote about “the portfolio worker”, a person who holds a number of jobs, clients, and types of work simultaneously. Jobs come and go and careers do not last as long as they used to; but, a portfolio can stay with you throughout your life. Handy suggested that more people should orient their work lives around a body of work as opposed to a single position that lasts for 40 years.

Olivier Serrat

I must compliment you, You have written 2 insightful pieces for the benefit of all.

Besides the "flight from reason and boredom" to endless desires in UK or USA, not available in all countries as well as for specialized persons, which is what this column is about, can you delve deeper into your intellect and offer some solace for scientists and doctors rather than for salesforce? Millennials are caught up in a vortex that make them look different. Theye are the most unsatisfied component of the human race ever. With gays / lesbians / bisexuals / multiple partner superpersons, single mothers, transgenders, HIV-sufferers, drug-addicts and boot-legging in legislatively crippled Indian reservations and off it, MSM and asylum seekers becoming a prominent force that claims new orientations in-your-face and laws that justify the "aberrant" to the conservative in the New World, The Age of Unreason underscores unwisdom, a phrase that will hit the mind with stunning force in time to come.

Every child who hopes to become a doctor one day, has a set of hopes and aspirations that are different from that of those that pursue other professions. That is why physician fatigue has special personal connotations and societal impacts. It is amazing that of so many doctors on ResearchGate, none have come forward. This is just a discussion, not the Spanish Inquisition.

Charles Handy's advocacy of the portfolio life (or career) bears repeating: a portfolio of activities—some money, some for interest, some for pleasure, some for a cause—can be developed by anyone, the intention being to form a balanced whole of physical, emotional, and spiritual energy that is greater than the parts. Having a portfolio life (or career) is realistic (and compatible with full-time employment if one is fortunate enough to work in an organization that provides different sorts of employment within its walls).

To the point: three relatively recent and integrated articles by Dike Drummond, MD that address the issue of physician burnout are:

• Physician Burnout: Its Origin, Symptoms, and Five Main Causes, available at https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2015/0900/p42.html#fpm20150900p42-bt1;
• Eight Ways to Lower Practice Stress and Get Home Sooner, available at https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2015/1100/p13.html; and
• Four Tools for Reducing Burnout by Finding Work-Life Balance, available at https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2016/0100/p28.html.

You refuse to countenance how frequently doctors move on? I give up on you in this matter.