The major factor that burned me out in my twenties was my feeling responsible for that over which I had no control. I had no control over patient compliance or patient happiness, and yet I felt responsible for both. When a patient was unwilling to comply or to get emotionally healthier, I felt like I had failed. Stepping out of practice for a season allowed me to re-evaluate and re-define the purpose of being a physician, to determine how I want to perceive and experience the practice of medicine (which includes wise boundaries), to find fulfillment in being a compassionate witness who uses scientific knowledge to alleviate suffering.
Another factor leading to burnout was my internal perfectionistic expectation that I had to know everything. Doctors are always reading and learning, and there are tiny slivers of time in clinic to look up information, but self-pressure to know it all will only lead to performance anxiety. It’s far better to enjoy the lifelong medical learning without the inner perfectionism that kills both curiosity and enthusiasm.
Physician, Get Healed 