Preventing Burnout: Self-Care Strategies for Healthcare Workers

Healthcare workers deserve support for their wellbeing. Personal routines may help some people manage demanding work, but they cannot replace appropriate staffing, safe working conditions or access to care. This article offers general ideas, not a treatment plan or a promise that burnout can be prevented by individual effort.

Start with working conditions

Health Canada's nursing retention toolkit addresses organizational mental health supports, time off, leadership and staffing alongside flexibility. It is intended to help employers improve working conditions. A worker should not be expected to solve persistent workload or safety problems through self-care alone.

Identify what support is available

Find out how to raise workload, scheduling or safety concerns in your workplace. Ask about confidential counselling, an employee assistance program where available, occupational health services or other professional support. Check eligibility and confidentiality arrangements rather than assuming that every service applies to every work arrangement.

Protect opportunities for rest

Discuss realistic breaks and recovery time with the people responsible for the schedule. Consider travel, other work and responsibilities outside work when deciding whether an extra shift is manageable. Short breaks or a preferred relaxation activity may be helpful, but they are not substitutes for sufficient rest or a response to unsafe conditions.

Stay connected

A trusted colleague, supervisor or support service can provide a place to discuss difficulties and identify next steps. Respect patient and colleague confidentiality when talking about work. If symptoms persist or affect daily life, a qualified health professional can help assess what support is appropriate.

Be realistic about scheduling flexibility

Staffy lets professionals review marketplace opportunities. Availability, requirements and facility selection still determine whether a booking happens. Choosing among available shifts may suit some workers, but using Staffy is not a treatment for burnout and does not guarantee less stress, higher income or a particular work-life balance.

A shared responsibility

Useful changes may involve the worker, their team and the organization. Review what is helping and what still needs attention. Seeking support is appropriate; having difficulty is not a failure to be resilient.

Editorial correction, October 20, 2026: unsupported burnout percentages and claims about brief exercises rewiring the brain or reliably preventing burnout have been removed. The article no longer presents Staffy as a proven burnout intervention.

Health Canada: Organizational mental health and wellness supports