Balm in the Burnout, Episode 7:
Healthcare Burnout to Work Life Balance - Designing a Life You Don’t Need to Escape From with Patrick Otis
Welcome 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
Connect 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:
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.