LAUSR

“We're all in the same boat” has been a common refrain throughout the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic, though a more apt description may be that we are all caught at sea in the same violent storm. Although some individuals have been sailing through on luxury yachts, others are clinging to the side of crowded dinghies. Healthcare workers have become like crew members aboard large ships—working amid the wind and rain to adjust the rigging, bail out water, and ensure the passengers are secured below deck. Data show that rates of burnout and moral injury increased among physicians and other healthcare workers during pandemic surges. Indeed, after more than 2 years of this public health crisis, most healthcare workers are seasick; and many feel we have fallen—or been pushed—into the water. Despite the chaotic circumstances, many healthcare workers also feel ashamed to be struggling. They may not recognize the outsized impact that external factors can have on our functioning. But just as someone with a lifelong fear of water would react differently than an Olympic swimmer after being knocked overboard, those with more difficult life experiences (e.g., trauma history, relationship/financial problems, pre‐existing burnout symptoms) are likely to struggle more than those without. Similarly, just as access to a life preserver and distance from the boat will affect our ability to swim to safety, the proximity and severity of our exposure to the virus (e.g., working in the mergency department or intensive care unit, losing a loved one to COVID‐19, recovering from severe infection) may influence our ability to function. Acknowledging that each of us is responding as best we can according to our personal experiences can help to increase compassion for ourselves, our colleagues, and our patients. The following guide may help physicians and other healthcare workers as they navigate through the COVID‐19 storm. ACKNOWLEDGE REALITY