Biophysical Society Bulletin | May 2019

Career Development

Designing and Implementing Strategies to Prevent and Recover fromBurnout

the academic setting. These include courses like Cultivating Emotional Balance, Cognitively Based Compassion Training, Compassion Cultivation Training, Mindful Self-Compassion, and others. Vasanthi Jayaraman , a professor of biochemistry and molecu- lar biology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, spoke from personal experience of the importance of mindfulness and meditation. After a busy but produc- tive early start to her career, she encountered a number of personal challenges that made her painfully aware of just how much she had taken on between research, service, and personal commitments. Through mindfulness and meditation, she has learned techniques to check in, even just briefly, and be present in a non-judgmental, focused way. Similarly, Kenton Swartz , a senior investigator in the molec- ular physiology and biophysics section of National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, reminded us that while science is amazing, it can be built on a framework of internal and external judgment. Seeking escape from the continuous internal and external criticism that drives much of scientific discourse, he took up yoga. As a complete novice, he took the opportunity to allow himself to explore the practice of yoga without judgment and with freedom. Many who seek escape in running, yoga, knitting, or board games will likely agree that finding an activity that allows us to find focus without judg- ment can work wonders to counteract burnout and stress. After a brief mindfulness exercise to guide us in appreciation and awareness, we were sent back on our way to the hus- tle and bustle of the Annual Meeting with at least food for thought, if not new practices to guide us in our daily academic life. Additional resources can be found at http:/cultivat- ing-emotional-balance.org/, https:/ tibet.emory.edu/cog- nitively-based-compassion-training/, http:/ccare.stanford. edu/education/about-compassion-cultivation-training-cct/, https:/self-compassion.org.

While many of us recognize and acknowledge the stresses of scientific jobs in academia and industry, mental health issues are often not discussed. This is particularly true in academia where there is relatively little discussion of how to support researchers as they navigate a mentally (and some- times physically!) challenging career. Stresses of competing for funding, lack of institutional support, teaching loads, and service all contribute to the depression, anxiety, and burnout felt by faculty and trainees ( Nature 562, Oct. 18). Additional factors of racial, gender, and age discrimination can add to feelings of isolation and despair. Trainees also have their own challenges; 47 percent report depression. Although we may recognize signs of burnout and stress, how do we counteract this? It can seem difficult to find practical tools to address what at times feels like inevitable periods of burnout and difficulty. A scientist is always looking for a protocol and it was with this interest that I attended the “Preventing Burnout” session at the BPS19 meeting. The ses- sion was organized under the auspices of the Committee for Professional Opportunities for Women (CPOW) and was led by Eleonora Zakharian and featured Vasanthi Jayaraman and Kenton Swartz , each of whom brought unique and comple- mentary insight into how they have personally managed their mental health and how this can translate to tools for the rest of us. First, there are a few basic tenets to follow to avoid burnout. These include taking time off, even an evening or a weekend. Learning how to say no to tasks that are not a priority and recognizing that your job is just a job can also help. It also helps to have institutional commitment to faculty mental health, and while one has to remember that the institution never loves you back, there is an increasing availability of resources for helping to cultivate well-being and resilience in

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