Balm in the Burnout, Episode 7: Healthcare Burnout to Work Life Balance - Designing a Life You Don’t Need to Escape From with Patrick OtisWelcome back to Balm in the Burnout! In this episode, Megan sits down with Patrick Otis, a nurse anesthetist, pickleball enthusiast, and advocate for work-life balance.About Our Guest:Patrick has been a nurse since 2013 and a nurse anesthetist since 2018. Outside the operating room, you’ll find him on the pickleball court, singing in choir with his husband, deep in a personal finance spreadsheet, or planning his next adventure. Patrick is passionate about staying active—physically, mentally, and emotionally—and about creating balance in a demanding profession.In This Episode:Patrick and Megan discuss burnout, the importance of finding joy and community outside of work, and how to avoid letting your job define your entire identity.Patrick shares how pickleball became a source of presence, mindfulness, and community in his life.The conversation explores the challenges of maintaining identity and wellbeing as a healthcare professional, especially through the pandemic.They touch on financial independence, the FIRE movement, moving the goalpost, and the value of enjoying life now rather than always chasing the next milestone.Patrick offers practical advice for reducing burnout: find something outside of work that you love and build community around it.The episode wraps up with reflections on fun, friendship, and the importance of being kind—to yourself and others.Key Themes & Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction to Balm in the Burnout and today’s guest  01:20 – Patrick’s grounding moment: singing and connection in choir  03:08 – Patrick’s background in healthcare and navigating pandemic burnout  06:35 – When your job becomes your identity (and how to change that)  09:44 – Discovering joy through pickleball and physical presence  13:55 – Why fun is an essential part of burnout recovery  17:20 – Shifting values after crisis: work-life balance and reframing success  20:45 – Finding a team that brings ease and connection  23:03 – Exploring FIRE: financial independence and reclaiming your time  26:42 – Escaping the cycle of “more”: enoughness, rest, and values  30:15 – Final thoughts: community, self-kindness, and long-term healing  33:12 – Outro and how to connect with Patrick on InstagramConnect with Patrick:Follow Patrick on Instagram: @pfaunillian to keep up with his pickleball adventures and more.Takeaway:Don’t work so hard that you forget to have fun. Find your people, build community, and remember: you are more than your job.Thanks for listening!Dive Deeper:For more tools and services to support your risk reduction of burnout, visit Megan at harvesthealthandwellbeing.com, or hhwellb.com for her short links of upcoming events and free resources.

Ver todos los episodios