Stress leading to depression and burnout syndrome among us, doctors, is now increasing in a tremendous pace, with spiking number of doctors’ suicides. There are varied reason for this. Let us just put some simple points for our mental well-being in this worrisome scenario:
1. Talk to your friend, anyone whom you can confide about your mental stress.
2. Take help of psychiatrist or any other colleague without any qualms or hesitation. Remember everyone needs a doctor and Doctors need doctors as well!
3. Do not ignore own physical problems or diseases. Think of it seriously, talk with colleagues. Self-medication is based on self-diagnosis. Remember that we are not always the best person to treat ourselves!
4. Most of us work by the rule of ‘work hard and rest little’. Work and rest, which are two sides of the same coin, are very rarely balanced by doctors. So schedulling some time every week just for yourself, on a regular basis is most important. Schedule that in your weekly routine and block it, like you would for any professional appointment.
5. Do whatever you adore to do at that time, it can be simple relaxing, reading, spending time with friends and families, travelling, painting, watching movies, singing, writing, sports activities and what not! This will unwind you and rejuvenate.
6. Refuse to do what you can not. It would not make you a mean person or doctor in any way.
7. Take pleasure in little details.
8. Introspect if you are increasingly stressed at the workplace, then change it or leave it. Being a doctor, you will get to do something better and more accomplishing in no time.
9. You don’t need to be perfectionist in every sphere.
10. The secret of a well-balanced professional life is to effectively manage one’s time. The key is to find our own best fit, so that we can look forward to facing patients, professional life and responsibilities in social life with purpose and satisfaction.
11. Taking adequate nutrition in appropriate time interval, as far as possible. Be well-hydrated and do some physical activity regularly.
12. Inculcate newer hobbies or learn a new interesting thing.
13. Be empathetic and compassionate.
14. Don’t be stressed at climbing professional ladder.
15. Stop medical jousting.
16. Keep relaxed and steady while preparing for post MBBS specialisations and super-specialisations examinations. Believe me, this phase would also end soon, just keep up the patience and morale.
17. Stop self-neglect and having low self-worth.
Lastly, we have to remember: Whether it’s the best of times or the worst of times, it’s the only time we’ve got – Art Buchwald.
