I will heal you with cuteness and the power of my purr.
Happy Nurses day!
This is my appreciation to you, so the cats and I wanted to give you a gift; some insight into burnout because we want you to stay healthy and happy in your job for years to come.
I am a nurse, so I do know the hard work and dedication you put into you job. I also know the heartache and frustration work stress, compassion fatigue and burnout can bring.
Stay healthy, stay happy and stay zen.
I hope you enjoy it. ( if you are allergic to cats, oops)
I was like most people, I was so wrapped around my job that I couldn’t see anything else. The title of my job was my identity. For many years, I worked in a high stress environment and then it took its toll. My demeanor went from being a nurse with a heart of gratitude to a nurse with a nasty attitude.
It took years for me to get into Burnout and even longer to get out of it. Finally I had no choice as the situation made it impossible for me to work. I was wound up tight, exhausted, and anxious with absolutely no compassion and no motivation. I was burnt and I was devastated. So, I left my job after 15 years thinking it would make all the difference. I couldn’t have been more wrong. For many more years I struggled. (Mostly because I didn’t think I needed help)
Finally, I got the help I needed and I was able to open my eyes and see the situation for what it was. I also realized that I had my own wisdom right in front of me; my cats.
Seeing the Zen in them, helps me to reflect the Zen within me
-KT Cat Paws
Now, many years later, I am in a nursing job I really enjoy and above all I moved beyond burnout. OK, you can call me a crazy cat lady. It’s all good!
I’ll take care of you
The 9 Simple Cat rules
1. Cats are sneaky. They hide and watch with great patience, then pounce!
Cats have an amazing ability to be very patient as they wait. Their senses are open, they are completely present and their body is in its proper stance. They will pounce at just the right time.
Burnout is the same way.
It is important to realize that stress is not burnout. On-going environmental, personal and situational stressors cause burnout. Burnout is beyond stress but stress can start the burnout process. Burnout simmers over time until we’re consumed by the flames. It can take months or years to get into burnout and it can take just as long to get out. Burnout had a triad of symptoms that occur.
feel really exhausted that make it hard to function.
Skeptical and cynical about everything; our compassion goes out with the trash. At first we may get by this with humor, but soon that leaves too. We become the ‘nasty’ nurse. Yes, worse than grumpy cat.
Before long it destroys our confidence and the feeling that we make a difference.
The best remedy is prevention of course. We need to know our trigger points and where it hides. We need to keep our gentle cat eye on when we are getting more tired, frustrated, cynical or when our self-esteem decreases. We need to pay attention to our inner voice. When we can’t hear it we may be on the verge of burnout.
We need to protect our ankles from the attacking cat; we need to protect our life from burnout.
2. Cats can be stubborn and independent
Yes, the cat is stubborn and independent, but they depend on us for basic needs and to keep them safe. They also “know” when they need you.
Burnout makes us believe we are the lone warrior like puss and boots going into a daily battle at our job. It is a lonely place in our job when we are a suborn cat with a hero complex. Being independent is great, but it makes it burnout more difficult, because we denying it for so long. Peace of mind will elude us sassy cat unless we accept the burnout and take care of ourselves.
It is also common to feel as though all our hard work is for nothing. We do our best, but it is just not good enough. So, instead of asking for help or using proper channels, we tend to over-do or to try to be the “one who gets it all done.” We extend beyond our limits. Just remember every superhero has a side kick.
You need one too!
Control is a by-product of being stubborn and we need to release control over this situation. It’s time to surrender to the burnout…gently. Surrender is not weak, it gives us strength to take a step back, get healthy and then come back better and stronger. In the meantime, don’t fight it, just be.
This is the time to find guidance and support for your mental well-being. No, this should not be your cat!
At work, find a burnout buddy; a co-worker whom you respect. They can be your ‘burnout’ sounding board as they may pick up on things that you can’t see.
3. When a cat gets scared, it pulls back; shrinks.
We have all seen that cat with the wide eyes, ears back with his tail between its legs. That is a scared cat looking for a place to back up against for safety.
When we are in burnout, our drive, self-esteem, and personality shrink back just like the cat. We have no energy and no Spirit. It is exhausting to try to drag ourselves from under the proverbial bed every day. Like a cat, we go into hiding. It is easier to cat-nap through the stress then it is to pull the claws out to fight. We need to be careful as we can become withdrawn and disconnected from everyone including the closest people in our lives. Even our cats may dislike us!
It is normal to think something is “wrong” with us when we are in compassion fatigue or burnout. That we didn’t do all we could do but that is not the case. Burnout is a cumulative effect from many variables. (Work load, co-workers, patients, environment, stubbornness, lack of respect) Our strength as a person and a profession is not in question. We are not a weak link. If anything our strength will be more evident once we get beyond burnout.
When we are going through compassion fatigue or burnout, we need to take time to recoup, but also remember that we need to keep a space open for those in our lives who want to help.
Take time to rejuvenate the soul.
Find those things that bring back the passion, appreciation and simplicity in our lives. These are sometimes the best tools to get through burnout.
4. Cats always land on their paws.
This is not true. For a cat, if they have a long time to fall, they can twist around and land on their paws, otherwise the can land on their nose or belly. Ouch.
The same goes with burnout. When we are feeling burnt, we often think of it as a ‘passing’ phase. So, for many months or years we ignore it and don’t take care of our mental or physical health. That was me; I fell so slow into it that I didn’t realized I was falling. I had the illusion that I would always land on my feet. Re-cooperation time was even longer. Yes, I am extremely stubborn and independent too)
We need to keep our body and mind in check and watch our frustration level. We need to release our stress constantly, take care of our body and mind and do things that bring us peace and reflection and relaxation. If we don’t, the reoperation period will take longer to get through and before long we will be in full blown burnout.
If this happens you will be belly down on the couch, for a very long time. I was there; trust me, even the cats got burned out by me.
Pay attention, the awareness of our frustration and stress level is our safety net.
5. Cats appear to always be sleeping
Although they do sleep a lot, many times they are not sleeping. Cats don’t have eyelids so they need to close their eyes frequently to rest them.
A hallmark signs of burnout is physical and mental exhaustion. In burnout all we want to do is sleep! This is when jealously sets in as we watch our cat curl up on our bed as we leave to go to work. sigh.
Yes, we need to sleep but we also need to rest the mind. Rest is not the same as doing nothing.
Just like the cat who finds that corner where she won’t be disturbed, we need to find that space where we can decompress too. This means completely removing all thoughts of work and work related situations.
We should be like the Zen cat and just close our eyes to relax. Meditate or have no-mind downtime to release all of our frustrations. Be spacious and simple.
Meditate, decompress and release all of it from the mind to replenish the soul.
Perspective changes when we are in our most natural state of relaxation.
6. Cats are sensitive and pick up on subtle things
The cat’s whiskers are extremely sensitive. They can sense subtle air movement which helps them sense their surrounding and keeps them safe from danger.
For us nurses when we are in compassion fatigue or burnout we can lose this ability to connect to our intuitive side. When we have no intuition we are not paying attention to our surroundings or our patients. We can start to miss those non-verbal cues that are so important to our assessment. We start to second guess our gut reaction to situations and that can slow down proper treatment.
We are also more open and vulnerable to the frustrations of our patients and co-workers. We get upset easier and find a hard time keeping grounded.
Both of these situations can affect our confidence in our skills and abilities.
We nurses are natural intuitive beacons, so more than likely the intuition is still there, it is just a tad more dormant as we may not be “spot” on. We stop listening when our minds get muddled by the burnout.
Cats have whiskers on their paws. Perhaps it would be good to use your other senses (listening, hearing or touching) or ask other co-workers to share their insight.
If you can’t trust your head, at least trust your heart.
7. Cats purr when they are happy and hurt
They are not sure what ‘starts’ a purr but we do know that cats purr when they are happy or hurt. Purring creates a vibration that helps in healing.
Nurses do the same.
Some of us wear our frustration on our sleeve; while others will fake they’re happy when they are not. Who are we kidding; most of our co-workers see our frustration and know when we are being nurse cranky–poopy pants. (I have a cat nick-named poopy-pants. Ok, that is for another blog)
We need to share our frustrations and let others know where we are in our head. All too often bad situations continue on because no one speaks up or does anything to change it. It is true that not everyone processes situations the same and they may not understand why you “just can’t get over” the stress and burnout. That is not our concern right now. Our concern should be safety; ours and our patients. Open up about work stress, compassion fatigue and burnout. It may just open up doors for you. It is also just like the purr…it can heal.
You may just realize that you are not alone and someone else may have the tools to help, perhaps even your cat.
A cats purr is known to lower blood pressure, relax the mind and provide healing to bones and wounds. There is wisdom in the small things too.
8. Cats live in the present moment
I am pretty sure they are not aware of it, but I seriously doubt the cat is worried about if the heaping portion of tuna is going to put extra weight. Shutter.
Cats teach us that the only thing we have is the present moment. When we are in burnout we have a lot of “what if” or “should” going on it our head. These situations should hold no space in the now of our life as they robe our future and keep us planted in the past. The cat can teach presence and ways to honor that serene space within.
It’s good to have those moments when we are so present that we are not worrying about work. We need them for healing.
Once you are through your burnout, then you can become reflective in the reason ‘why’. At that point your mind will be clear and perspective will be easy to grasp.
For myself, I believe that there was a reason for my burnout. It became an opportunity to help others in burnout and to get to know myself. I became more patient and spacious in my thinking. Plus I get to write on this cute cat blog. It is my Zen.
Take the time to play with your cat or dog. It is good for them plus we get to share in their enthusiasm. Be completely presence with them- open your heart and be in gratitude.
Another great way to be in the present moment is to be creative; find new hobbies and explore different avenues and cultures.
The passion of our own creativity can sing to our heart as it opens the senses. It brings us gentle focus which shifts us easily into mindfulness.
9.Even the smallest cat has a big lion heart.
I have a small cat and she does everything the other cats do. She is inquisitive and determined as she sits high on top of the bookshelf looking all regal and sassy.
Our perception changes in burnout. We are not the same person we were before and we will never be. That is just reality.
Burnout can make us feel as though we have failed in our profession. Before long we let this failure define us. Burnout is NOT against us, it is a by-product of our current situation. That’s all. It needs to be understood and managed in the best way for you.
This is all about perspective, so be gentle and consider the small victories every day. When we fall, or slip into frustration or stress, we need to take a step back, reassess and continue on and breathe.
Burnout may change your work situation or give you new insight into your purpose. It is a journey and right now you are on that mountain looking down upon the valley. It is scary, but open to new possibilities.
The greatest struggles bring the greatest insights. So, shift the way you see things.
Sometimes a new view can change perspective and open you up to things that you would have never thought of.
If that doesn’t work, talk to the cat. They may just give you some more cat wisdom…or a high five paw.
Go get em Nurse Sassy Cat!
Peace, Hugs and Purrs.
KT
Stop. Breathe. Be