Clinician burnout is an increasing problem in the U.S. health care system.¹ Burnout is characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a decreased sense of personal accomplishment.² Mindfulness interventions have been shown to ameliorate this problem in a broad range of health care providers.³ Additionally, mindful clinicians deliver better care and have more satisfied patients.⁴

Presented here are several techniques to introduce mindful awareness into clinical practice. Practice of these techniques will help you to establish a state of nonjudgmental, moment-to-moment awareness that pervades your clinical activities. This sets the stage for a deeper, more fulfilling experience of your clinical work.

Myriad demands and preoccupations divide the clinician’s attention in a typical clinical setting. We ruminate about the previous patient encounter, worry about staying on time, consider what to do for patients we have seen or will see, and manage constant interruptions of our activities. Mindful awareness practice asks you to recognize that you can only complete one task at a time, while simultaneously honoring your amazing capability to effectively and efficiently manage the task at hand through engaging your full attention. Savor these opportunities to “drop in” to the present moment; continued practice will facilitate your best work.

This tool offers several suggestions for how health care professionals can cultivate mindful awareness in their day-to-day patient care. Employing mindful awareness techniques in times of stress will help you regain a sense of calm and centeredness. They can help you prevent burnout and boost resilience. Scheduled practice throughout the day will help you develop a mindful way of being. Try the various techniques, and adapt them to your practice environment.