Stop Being So Hard on Yourself: Five Reasons To Celebrate Physicians

If you’re like many physicians, it may be easy to lose sight of your value. Healthcare today faces unprecedented challenges and stressors, and it’s sometimes hard not to take it personally.

Physicians in particular are some of the worst at self-flagellation. It’s common to feel frustrated and disappointed when you feel as if you haven’t lived up to your own ideals, or those that are imposed on you. Some days it can seem as if being a doctor is a thankless task. Doctor’s Day comes once a year, but your work is never done. So I’d like to share five reasons that you deserve to be appreciated and celebrated every day.

You Want to Do Good in the World

Medical practice is a field that naturally attracts individuals who are both highly intelligent as well as driven by a desire to impact the world positively. But wanting to do good and actually doing the work are two very different things. You do the work. Although your efforts may not always be acknowledged, your actions, big and small, directly affect the health and well-being of your patients and your community.

You Do Hard Things Every Day

Physicians face an array of challenges daily, from navigating complex medical and social issues to making life-saving decisions under pressure. On top of that, societal, economic, and administrative pressures may add levels of frustration that test your empathy and determination. The work of a physician requires an extraordinary level of resilience and fortitude, especially when, despite your best efforts, things don’t always turn out as you’d hoped or expected. It is no exaggeration to say that this level of commitment and grit far exceeds that of most other professions.

You Are Passionate About Your Work

Passion is the lifeblood of innovation and motivation. Physicians often pursue their profession because of a deep-seated passion for healing and discovery. This enthusiasm is often what spurs you to continually learn, grow, and push the boundaries of what is medically possible. Even on days where you feel less than enthusiastic, your years of focus and commitment drive you to do your best work.

You Come from All Walks of Life

Each physician comes to the profession with a unique array of backgrounds and experiences. Whether you come from a rural town or a large urban community, from a US metroplex or a country thousands of miles away, each physician carries a distinctive set of perspectives and skills. This diversity enhances your ability to connect with and care for a wide range of patients with a rich mix of cultures and viewpoints.

You Are a Change-Maker

Physicians are often at the forefront of change, not only in their clinics or hospitals but also in the broader context. Collectively, you have the power to initiate significant health policy reforms, improve patient care standards, and lead community health initiatives. What you do makes a difference in ways, big and small, that ripple out into the world.

As a doctor, you are not just a healthcare provider or a widget in a faceless system. You are a resilient, passionate, and dedicated professional committed to making the world a better place, one patient at a time. Most importantly, the work you do matters.

If you’ve enjoyed this article and would like to stay in the loop for more insights on creating a sustainable, fulfilling, and happy life as a physician, sign up for my newsletter or reach out on my website. I’d love to hear from you.

And if you’d like to schedule a complimentary introductory meeting with me, click the link below.

Thriving Amidst Chaos: Prioritizing Health, Self-Care, and Mindfulness

In the constant press of your daily life, prioritizing health, self-care, and mindfulness often takes a backseat. But when you make the time to care for yourself, you’ll be better equipped to care for those who depend on you.

In this article, we’ll explore why self-care matters, including the impact of self-care on stress management, and I’ll give you some simple steps that will help you to thrive amidst the daily storm of clinical practice.

The Impact of Stress on Burnout

It’s common to think of stress as harmful and something to be avoided. But stress can affect your health positively as well as negatively.

Positive stress happens when you face a challenge or a deadline that you know you are capable of meeting. It might be a stretch, but you know it’s possible. And importantly, there is a reward on the other side.

While positive stress can propel you towards your goals, negative stress can lead to frustration and burnout. Negative stress is defined as those forms of stress over which you have no control. A boss (or spouse) who is never happy, a job for which you are never rewarded or thanked, and escalating demands at work without adequate time off to recharge are all forms of negative stress.

Constant and unrelenting stress can lead to burnout. The World Health Organization defines burnout as an “occupational phenomenon.” Burnout is characterized by

• Exhaustion and loss of motivation

• Cynicism and negativity

• Inefficiency

Given the current state of healthcare, it’s no surprise that over 60 percent of physicians reported at least one manifestation of burnout in 2021.

It’s important to remember that burnout is not your fault. It is a symptom of a dysfunctional system or workplace. But developing some tools to help you get through tough times can lessen the impact and improve your overall happiness and wellbeing.

Self Care and its Benefits

Self-care is not just about pampering yourself. It's about taking care of your mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

Committing to self-care enhances focus, improves relationships, reduces stress, and leads to less burnout. Acknowledging the mind-body connection is often the first step towards effective self- care.

Nutritional Psychiatry and Stress Management

The new field of Nutritional Psychiatry focuses on the growing body of research that strongly connects what you eat to how you feel. Without a doubt, mental health is complex and multifaceted. Diet is only one part of the big picture.

But when you’re famished and pressed for time, the quickest options can undermine you, sabotaging your best intentions and sapping your energy.

As it turns out, those ultra-processed foods that often pass for nutrition in the doctor’s lounge can raise your risk of anxiety, sleep disturbance, depression, food addiction, alcohol use disorder, and increased inflammation. Artificial sweeteners in particular have been linked to a greater risk for depression.

Instead, consider incorporating simple elements of the Mediterranean diet like fruits, nuts, whole grains, olive oil and fish. You probably know that the Mediterranean diet supports heart health and may reduce the risk for certain cancers. But this diet is also linked to improved symptoms of depression and better mental health and well-being. There’s also emerging evidence that a Mediterranean diet can improve perceptual performance.

It might take a little planning, but going Mediterranean doesn’t have to be complicated. Simply packing a nourishing lunch or advocating for healthier options at work can make a difference.

Exercise and Health

You already know that regular exercise will lower the risk of heart disease, cancer, bone disease, and dementia.

But research has also shown that exercise can reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and improve immune function. It doesn’t take a lot of exercise to reap the benefits. A brisk walk a few days a week is a great way to get started.

Mindfulness and Self-Care

"Mindfulness is the awareness that arises when we nonjudgmentally pay attention in the present moment.” These are the words of Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD., Professor of Medicine Emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and the godfather of mindfulness in healthcare.

Put even more simply, mindfulness is undistracted attention.

Practicing mindfulness can lead to

• Healthier lifestyle choices

• Less stress and anxiety

• Greater parasympathetic tone

• Better cardiovascular health

• Improved immunity.

Mindfulness doesn’t have to be about doing yoga or meditating. Instead, it’s about being undistracted, nonreactive, and fully present in the moment.

Getting started with mindfulness isn’t complicated. You don’t need a special cushion or a meditation app, although those can be nice. Simply set aside 3-10 minutes of quiet time each day to observe the present moment. Notice your thoughts and let them go, returning to the present when your mind wanders.

It is this practice of continually returning to the present moment that develops the “mindfulness muscle.”

When you practice mindfulness, you may find that your communication with patients and colleagues becomes easier and more engaged.

Create an Action plan

Creating an action plan will help you to set realistic goals and track your progress. Write out the steps that you need to take to commit to your self-care. And develop a plan that is realistic and actionable.

Enlisting a partner or friend with whom you can share accountability can help you to stay committed. Something as simple as a daily reminder on your phone may also keep you on track.

The ripple effect of taking your own self-care to heart will show up in your energy level, creativity, and relationships. You’ll develop a greater sense of self-compassion and equanimity. And in time, your path forward toward the goals that matter will become more clear.

If you’ve enjoyed this article and would like to stay in the loop for more insights on creating a sustainable, fulfilling, and happy life as a physician, sign up for my newsletter or reach out on my website. I’d love to hear from you.

And if you’d like to schedule a complimentary coaching discovery session, click the button below.

References

Adan, R. A. H. et al. (2019). Nutritional psychiatry: Towards improving mental health by what you eat. European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 29(12), 1321–1332.

Davidson, R. J. et al. (2003). Alterations in brain and immune function produced by mindfulness meditation. Psychosomatic medicine, 65(4), 564–570.

Ezzatvar Y, Ramírez-Vélez R, Izquierdo M, et al. (2022). Physical activity and risk of infection, severity and mortality of COVID-19: a systematic review and non-linear dose–response meta-analysis of data from 1 853 610 adults. British Journal of Sports Medicine 56:1188-1193.

Gilbert, D., & Waltz, J. (2010). Mindfulness and health behaviors. Mindfulness, 1(4), 227–234

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Loucks, E. B.et al. (2015). Mindfulness and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: State of the Evidence, Plausible Mechanisms, and Theoretical Framework. Current cardiology reports, 17(12), 112.

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Munoz, M.A. et al. (2009). Adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with better mental and physical health. British Journal of Nutrition. 101 (1821-1827),

Samuthpongtorn C et al. (2023). Consumption of Ultraprocessed Food and Risk of Depression. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(9):e2334770. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.34770

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World Health Organization: WHO. “Burn-out an ‘Occupational Phenomenon’: International Classification of Diseases.” World Health Organization, 28 May 2019, www.who.int/news/item/28-05-2019-burn-out-an-occupational-phenomenon-international-classification-of-diseases.

Yin, W. et al. (2021). Mediterranean Diet and Depression: A Population-based Cohort Study. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-021-01227-3

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