Balancing life's choices--all dressed up and too many places to go

One of the most common types of stress among people in the health care profession is burnout. Saving lives, supporting people's health, confronting extreme danger, and patching people back together demands an enormous amount of physical and emotional energy. There are several factors that can lead nurses to getting burned out and becoming dissatisfied and unhealthy. As nurses try to juggle too many balls while wearing too many hats, they can get swept up in a rapid-fire pace that leaves them unhappy and disconnected. The many pressures and constant barrage of technology and media have caused many individuals to actively pursue balance in the same way they once sought upward mobility. This article offers practical steps that nurses can take to retool their lives into a meaningful journey of fulfillment and responsible choices, founded on self-insight and reflection.