When it comes to burnout, healthcare professionals are doing everything they can to take care of themselves in a system that isn’t fully working for them. This was evident in our recent “#MoveBeyondBurnout Sweepstakes.” Hundreds of professionals shared personal stories that showcased both the toll of burnout and the resilience of our community.
Their stories demonstrate the fact that burnout in healthcare is a genuine crisis. But they also demonstrate that, within that crisis, professionals know what they need.
One response captured the spirit of the sweepstakes: "Moving beyond burnout looks less like a dramatic breakthrough and more like a series of small, intentional resets."
Burnout is a mental health issue,* and we know no one can move beyond it alone. But together, we can.
This is how healthcare professionals take care of their mental health
Across hundreds of responses, 10 themes rose to the top.
1. Family and connection
The people who fill healthcare professionals' cups are often also the ones who remind them why it's worth filling. Twenty six percent of respondents pointed to the people in their lives as both the reason they keep going and what helps them recover. One professional wrote about coming home to her children after a shift and finding her center again in their laughter. Another spent an entire weekend with family — phones off the whole time. Another described driving an hour out of town with a friend just to get coffee somewhere unfamiliar, talk about everything except work, and sleep better that night than they had in weeks.
2. Hobbies and entertainment
Reading. Music. Thrifting. Binge-watching a comfort show. These are the things that remind healthcare professionals that they have a whole self that isn't defined by their shift, patients or licensure. One professional called her DIY crafts "ease for the soul."
3. Treating yourself to something small
This was the most common answer, showing up in 27% of responses, like cooking a favorite meal at home after a long shift or watching the birds from the porch. These micro-moments of joy help healthcare professionals return to themselves, again and again.
4. Walking and being in nature
Being outside is another way healthcare professionals relieve stress. One respondent said getting out in nature every chance they get is what brings them back to calm — whether that's paddleboarding, camping, or picking up trash off rural roads. Another, whose car was in the shop, chose to walk instead of stress. "It was nice taking time to breathe and take in the moment."
5. Rest and sleep
Resting shouldn't have to be radical, yet, for healthcare professionals, it can be. One respondent went to the gym after an overnight shift, then went home to sleep before doing it again. Another wrote: "I slept longer than four hours!"
6. Boundaries, balance and mindset
Boundaries look different for everyone. There were practical actions, like taking a real day off, declining extra shifts, and taking more control over schedules. And there were boundaries and mindset shifts, such as choosing to stay positive, remembering why they do this work, giving themselves permission to not have it all figured out. One professional described walking into a clean home with groceries and bills paid after a full week of work this way: "That one day off clears my mind and restores me."
7. Mental health and mindfulness
This community is doing the inner work. One professional has been in therapy since COVID and calls it "a safe space to vent." Other professionals rely on journaling, breathwork, meditation or daily affirmations. An LPN shared that she takes five quiet minutes in her car before each shift to breathe, reset, and remind herself why she shows up. "Burnout is real in healthcare, but choosing myself in small moments is how I keep going."
8. Self-care
Self-care is finding ways to care for yourself with whatever you have, wherever you are, and it looks different for everyone. Some professionals get regular massages, others favor pedicures, long baths and face masks. One respondent could no longer visit nail salons — so she bought her own kit and kept the ritual alive anyway. Another takes a long, hot shower after every shift.
9. Exercise and physical activity
Exercise showed up as both a physical outlet and an emotional one. And it’s how some healthcare professionals are processing the weight of the work and caring for their own health. One professional put it plainly: "I had to show up for myself today."
10. Spirituality and faith
Faith is the foundation for a meaningful portion of this community, what makes showing up possible when nothing else does. One respondent prayed when their car broke down instead of spiraling. Another attends a Bible study group and says staying focused on positive things keeps the negative thoughts at bay after 20-plus years in the field.
Small steps can make a difference
Taking a nap, going for a walk, meditating on your break — these are genuine acts of self-preservation. They keep healthcare professionals functional, protect their mental health, and help them show up for patients on the days when everything in them says they can't. These small actions are critical if healthcare professionals are to move beyond burnout.
But a coffee run or a long bath, as good as those feel, can’t fix a broken system.
Because burnout isn't a personal failing that gets solved by better habits. It's a structural problem that stems from inadequate support, escalating workloads, and work environments that don't give healthcare professionals freedom, flexibility or time to breathe. The fix has to live at that level too.
That's why ShiftKey exists. The ability to choose your own shifts, set your own schedule, and decide when and where you work can be a lifeline.
As one ShiftKey user put it:
“My family and my kids’ sports help me move beyond burnout. ⚽⚾🧢On most days I run to work then straight to the ball field. I’m so grateful for my flexibility with ShiftKey so I’m able to attend all of the games and practices. ❤🔥🙌”
Flexibility isn't the whole answer. But it, alongside autonomy, is proven to help reduce burnout.
To everyone who participated in the #MoveBeyondBurnout Sweepstakes: Thank you.
Not just for sharing your story, but for doing the work every single day. The nursing student working between exams. The med tech 19 years in who finally took a day off after a month straight. The single mom of four (two with autism) who still shows up with compassion for every resident.
You told us what moves you forward. We're listening.
This May, in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we built “Move Beyond Burnout” resources pages to help healthcare professionals and facilities keep moving beyond burnout.* We’ll keep updating them with current burnout research and tips. We’re also committed to continuing the conversation, so that we can move beyond burnout as an industry, together.
* This article is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for mental health advice from a qualified professional. If you’re in crisis, dial 988.
