Self-care for Physicians: 5 Strategies for Success — Susan Leggett-Johnson
We look at doctors to diagnose and treat our illnesses. However, research studies demonstrate that several physicians and healthcare providers suffer from depression, substance abuse, burnout, and so on. Furthermore, by ignoring their own own physiological needs, they may not be able to deliver an as positive outcome compared to if they practiced self-care.
Recently, I read an article titled “Self-care for Physicians: 5 Strategies for Success”. Being a wellness advocate for physicians and other clinical providers, this article resonated with me and my recommendations to healthcare providers. The article describes five fundamental ways a physician can improve their well-being.
The 5 strategies for self-care for physicians are mentioned below -
1.Establish Work-home boundaries
One of the ways to practice self-care is to establish work-home boundaries. This can be practiced by keeping your phone away, letting your colleagues know that you are available only in case of emergencies, and so on.
2. Prioritizing family time
“Your organization will take as much time as you give them.”
Thus, spending time with family and destressing should be made a priority otherwise the physician could spend countless hours working.
3. Get enough sleep
Most healthcare providers do not get enough sleep because of their erratic timings. Physicians should start making small changes that will eventually form into a habit.
4. Exercise
Exercise is a useful way of reducing stress which comes a lot with being in the healthcare sector. Due to the shortage of time, healthcare providers can download apps like ‘7-minute Workout’ which can be scheduled into the hectic schedule of healthcare providers.
5. Maintain a healthy diet
Healthcare providers should “think about the fuel you’re consuming and see where you could make improvements.”
Also, just being around the company of others while eating can provide a sense of enjoyment.
Read the full article here.
