Healthy Habits: Work-Life Balance for Medical Professionals

 

The worst of the pandemic might be over, but the doctors and physicians who have walked the COVID wards of the past two years are still carrying the heavy emotional burden of the unprecedented loss of human life that we witnessed. This without a doubt has caused extreme emotional and mental stresses for our medical professionals that can spill into their personal lives, so what can they do to combat this? 

Dr. Gail Gazelle MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Master Certified Coach for physicians shares 3 skills for doctors and physicians to use for managing work-life balance. 

“With the stresses of the pandemic, there has never been a more difficult time to be a clinician. And we learn very little in our medical and nursing training to manage all the stresses and demands of this time. Yet, we can learn to become the master of our thoughts and emotions, build steadiness, and thrive on the frontlines and at home. When we do, we strengthen our relationships, enjoy more presence and calm, and experience deeper fulfillment in our work,” says Dr. Gazelle.

Skill #1: Master Emotional Reactivity
You’ve likely noticed just how often you can be blindsided by your emotions, something that happens to all of us! When we learn how to work with our emotions, letting them pass like the clouds pass in the sky, we gain a sense of mastery in our lives and relationships that can make the difference between burnout and thriving.

Skill #2: Build Steadiness
So many times, we can be like a marionette, being jerked around by life’s events and challenges. With simple mindfulness strategies, we can build a great deal of steadiness in how we meet the challenges we face. Instead of reacting and later regretting our reactions, we can meet the challenges we face with a sense of stability and calm. 

Skill #3: Thrive on the Frontlines and at Home
When we learn simple mindfulness and resilience strategies, it’s amazing how much better we can feel about ourselves, our work, and our relationships. We can let things roll off us much more readily, tune out distractions and focus more easily, and be much more skillful in meeting the challenges we face. By taking small steps, we can avoid burnout and have a career full of meaning, satisfaction, and thriving.