Recorded at HEALTHCON 2024 in Las Vegas, NV
Join AAPC leaders for a candid, solutions-first conversation on burnout, apathy, and remote-work fatigue. Learn how culture, recognition, scheduling, movement breaks, and honest boundary-setting can protect your energy. Get actionable tips for negotiating workload creep, keeping remote teams connected, and revitalizing local chapters with mentoring and the Emerging Leaders program.
How leaders are tackling burnout and apathy
Build culture on purpose. Celebrate wins, use rewards, and distinguish “busy and energized” from true burnout so you respond appropriately.
Recreate social connection. Schedule regular Zoom or Teams meetups, weekly 1:1s, and occasional in-office lunches to replace what remote work erased.
Name the problem first. Ask whether you’re seeing apathy, simple exhaustion, lack of socialization, or real burnout — each calls for a different fix.
Involve human resources. Even small practices need a point person; if support programs don’t exist, start the conversation internally.
Staying upbeat when you’re carrying a lot
Start small and celebrate simple wins. Enjoy the quiet victories: on-time project delivery, a peaceful dinner, or a 15-minute show you love.
Schedule your time like it matters. Block work, home, and self-care; putting it on the calendar is how it actually happens.
Prioritize fun on purpose. Protect a little joy daily to keep energy and optimism alive.
Working from home without burning out
Move your body and your mind will follow. Get up often, walk, stretch, and avoid “200 steps a day” syndrome.
Rebuild office moments online. Use quick Teams chats or 5-minute video huddles for “Can you believe this?” connection and problem-solving.
Set expectations and boundaries. You are not on call 24/7 — communicate availability and mirror healthy office routines at home.
Create new normals. Use simple rituals (start/stop times, real lunch, brief check-ins) to make remote days feel grounded.
When one role becomes two
Be honest early. Tell your leader what’s sustainable and what isn’t; “temporary” workloads tend to become permanent if you silently carry them.
Negotiate before you absorb. Align added duties with title, pay, or an end date — doing two jobs for one salary is a fast track to burnout.
Share impact, not just effort. Explain what slips if the vacancy isn’t filled and propose an interim plan with milestones.
Reviving local chapters without wearing out the “old guard”
Invite new leaders with safety nets. Pair prospective officers with a mentor for a year so they learn, contribute, and build confidence.
Explain the why and the what. Demystify officer duties and highlight career benefits — leadership, networking, and visibility.
Use the Emerging Leaders program. Point members to AAPC’s initiative designed to grow comfortable, capable leaders for chapters and beyond.
Show the cost of inaction. If a chapter pauses, members quickly feel the loss — sometimes that reality sparks new volunteers to step up.
Practical connection tips you can use tomorrow
Create a quick-chat circle. Form a small group of peers willing to hop on 5-minute video calls for real-time support.
Keep meetings human. Open with a personal check-in, celebrate small wins, and rotate who leads an icebreaker.
Protect movement in your calendar. Treat walk breaks like meetings you can’t miss.
Make recognition routine. Shout-out specific contributions in team channels or during stand-ups.
Mindsets that make resilience easier
Progress over perfection. Schedules help many people; if they stress you out, keep a simple must-do list and move on.
Boundaries beat heroics. Saying “yes” to everything today can cost you tomorrow’s quality and health.
Community is fuel. Whether it’s your team or your local chapter, connection keeps people energized and willing to lead.
Closing thought
Burnout isn’t a personal failure. It’s a signal to adjust workload, restore connection, and share the lift — at work and in your chapter community.