Hi Everyone
Thought you might be interestd in a summary of a session I have presented
recently in New Zealand and Australa. It was published in our local
newsletter (the South Australian College of Lactation Consultants newsletter). 

AVOIDING BURNOUT OF BREASTFEEDING ADVOCATES
The following points were put together by delegates at the annual New
Zealand Lactation Consultants Conference in March 1996 and delagates at the
inaugural SACLC (South Australian College of Lactation Consultants)
Conference in May 1996. My thanks go to all who participated. The aim was to
compile suggestions (listed alphabetically) that might help you avoid
burnout as you continue to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.

What are the symptoms of burnout?
· always thinking of the problems
· disorganised
· feeling depressed, disappointed, disinterested, drained
· feeling helpless, emotional, inadequate, tired, exhausted, lethargic
· feeling overloaded, overwhelmed, frustrated, cynical, unappreciated, resentful
· feeling that everyone is against you
· more accident prone
· unable to get things done, unable to make decisions
· unable to sleep

Why does burnout occur?
· attitudes of others towards you
· career changes, restructuring of work site
· carrying responsibility that belongs to others
· complexity of work
· conflict between family and work
· emotionally demanding work
· feeling isolated
· inability to delegate
· inadequate coping mechanisms
· lack of continuity of care
· lack of debriefing
· lack of funding
· lack of help and support
· lack of motivation
· mothers becoming too dependent on you
· never being good enough according to yourself and/or others
· no balance between work and play
· no formal recognition as an LC, not paid as an LC
· no thanks or appreciation for what you have done
· not seeing goals realised, unrealistic expectations
· ongoing WHO Code breaches
· others expecting you to solve all the problems
· pressure to provide quick resolutions to the problems
· thinking that noone else can do it as well
· too much to do
· unable to say no
· unresolved personal issues

What can be done to avoid burnout?
· achieve balance in all you do
· acknowledge your limitations
· attend breastfeeding conferences & seminars
· attend regular meetings to discuss concerns
· be aware of resources available
· delegate, decrease your workload, refer on, learn to pace yourself. learn
to say no
· don’t feel guilty
· don’t miss the magic of the moment by focussing on what’s to come
· don’t own the problem, learn to let go
· establish clear boundaries
· find a mentor, debrief
· keep a diary - write down whatever you wish eg what’s been going on, how
you feel about it, help clarify your thoughts
· list what needs to be done, however small
· look after yourself - diet, rest, exercise, health, massage, sleep, have
fun, meditate 
· network with others in the field
· pause between activities - assess your performance and give yourself
praise for what you have achieved
· prioritise activities
· set goals - know where you are heading, have a vision
· set time for family, time for partner
· set time for self - do something non-stressful, learn to like yourself
· treat everybody you meet like you want to be treated
· work smarter, not necessarily harder

Regards

Ellen McIntyre
Dept of Community Medicine
University of Adelaide, South Australia