Which comes first? Either. It’s a circle that you can follow one way or the other.

More rest makes it easier to handle stress.

Less stress typically leads to more rest.

What can you do this week to get more rest or decrease your stress?

This article is depressingly accurate. But also contains some ideas on how to fix it, but it requires buy-in on all sides.

“...the negative impact on patients and health care providers caused by bureaucratic processes, policies, or inefficiencies within the health care system—is pervasive”

https://www.kevinmd.com/2024/07/administrative-harm-is-destroying-the-practice-of-medicine.html

Coaching has helped me see the possibilities I didn’t believe existed.

Physicians know how to persevere. We are committed and hardworking. We went through many years of advanced schooling and training, which would not have been possible without perseverance. We are used to enduring physical, mental, and even spiritual hardship.

But this admirable trait can lead to trouble. Sometimes we don’t know when to quit.

https://www.medicalmindsconsulting.com/journal/paging-dr-quitter

This looks like a great film about subjects we don’t talk about enough: how mistakes affect doctors and the difficulties female physicians face. Looking forward to it!

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lipiroy/2024/06/26/a-mistake-tribeca-film-probes-a-female-surgeons-saga-of-grief-politics-sexism-and-strength/

Some alternate ideas about July 1, the traditional beginning of the medical training year.

I remember that very first day, 33 years ago like it was yesterday. I remember the excitement and the fear. I don’t feel ready. And I don’t know what else would have made me feel ready.

https://open.substack.com/pub/insidemedicine/p/the-most-wonderful-week-of-the-year

Asking for help is a form of self-care.

But only if you ask it from a place of self-compassion, not self-judgment.

The pattern starts early. On my very first night of Orthopedic call as an intern, my upper-level resident told me to call him for anything, but “...remember, it’s a sign of weakness”. Ah, the mixed (or not so mixed) messages of training. Do it perfectly every time and don’t require any help.

https://www.medicalmindsconsulting.com/journal/backup-plans

Don’t let the title throw you off.

This beautiful piece is about a doctor witnessing, allowing himself to feel, and letting it show.

We need to normalize this is medicine.

https://www.kevinmd.com/2024/06/when-a-doctors-heart-falls-witnessing-raw-emotion-in-medicine.html

Where are you making time for yourself this summer?

One year I didn’t take any time off over the summer months. It did not go well for me. Or anyone around me. I never did that again!

Well, looky there: residencies are capable of change.

In 1990/1991 I racked up $3000 on my CC for in-person interviews.

The pandemic may have forced residency interviews online, but many programs have kept the practice and aren’t returning to in-person interviews. If they can change this, what other changes are they capable of?

https://www.annemergmed.com/article/S0196-0644(24)00285-3/fulltext

Getting a broader perspective on your current situation is always a good idea. It helps to get out of your usual and proximate view of whatever is happening or not happening.

Where do you spend most of your time?

If it’s not in the present, simple techniques like taking several deep breaths, feeling your feet on the floor, or looking out the window and noticing what you see can get you here.

Can using AI be a game changer for documenting chart notes? This doctor thinks so.

https://open.substack.com/pub/insidemedicine/p/ai-just-permanently-changed-my-medical?r=5iih2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

Tending to your own needs allows you to be more available to share your gifts with others, which is why it’s essential not selfish.

The difference between feeling trapped or empowered can be as simple as changing the words you use to describe a situation.

Knowing you have the power of choice can make all the difference in how you feel about something.

https://www.kevinmd.com/2024/05/unlock-your-freedom-replace-should-with-could.html

Medical training teaches us to sacrifice our well-being and mental health at the altar of patient care. 

This behavior must be unlearned to sustain a healthcare career (or any career). It’s not either/or. It must be a both/and proposition. 

To be in service in a healthy way, your mental and physical health must also be a priority.

Next time you’re feeling worried or anxious about something, try engaging your curiosity by asking questions. What else might happen? How could this be an opportunity? How might this outcome be better than I’ve imagined? 

Wondering rather than worrying unlocks your creativity. 

It’s overwhelming to believe that a complete plan is necessary to start. Instead, focus on what you already know you need to do next week.

Humor isn’t just one of the best medicines. It’s one of the best connectors.