Recipes for Wellness: Finding the Right Ingredients to Avoid Burnout in Training and Practice, Part 1 & 2.  Planet Family Doc Podcast, December 2023 Episode

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Contributor: Dr. Courtney Field

Recipes for Wellness: Finding the Right Ingredients to Avoid Burnout in Training and Practice, Part 1 & 2.  Planet Family Doc Podcast, December 2023 Episode.

Summary:

Dr. Brunee Dorsett, a family physician in Nassau Bahamas, speaks to her experience with burnout and mental health struggles while completing her residency at the University of the West Indies during the COVID pandemic. During that time, she recognizes the need for physicians to start taking care of their own mental health and the importance of advocating for physician wellness. As technology advances, medical learners increasingly experience information overload which puts them at risk for imposter syndrome, mental fatigue, and mood disorders. Dr. Dorsett discusses the ongoing stigma of mental health and asking for help. She puts forth her own ideas to improve wellness and support mental health in physician training programs, including having residents subjectively rate their mental health at the start of residency and throughout, organizing regular wellness activities (ie. guided mindfulness sessions), and a mentorship program that allows for regular check-ins and added resident support when needed.  She reviews her “joy recipe” which helps her maintain her own mental well-being. And encourages you to start with small, attainable and achievable wellness activities that make you feel excited and invigorated about your life.

Take-away tidbits:

  1. Pay attention to verbal and non-verbal clues that colleagues may be struggling with burnout (ie. Frequently calling in sick) and don’t be afraid to check-in
  • The “joy recipe” consists of taking note of what mental/physical activities make you feel excited about your life (ie. exercise, being in nature, guided breathing, music, positive aspirations, art etc.) and trying to incorporate one or more per day (even just for 5min) as time allows
  • Walking the walk – sharing your “joy recipe” with colleagues/patients, inviting them to join, promoting wellness within your clinic to other staff

Resources recommended by Dr. Dorsett:

  1. Meditation App – Balance App https://balanceapp.com/
  2. BetterHelp  https://www.betterhelp.com/
  3. The Five Minute Journal https://a.co/d/cHC5dYL 

Link to Podcast:

Part 1: https://planetfamilydoc.libsyn.com/recipes-for-wellness-finding-the-right-ingredients-to-avoid-burnout-in-training-and-practice-part-one

Part 2: https://planetfamilydoc.libsyn.com/recipes-for-wellness-finding-the-right-ingredients-to-avoid-burnout-in-training-and-practice-part-two