Caring for Yourself and Others in Times of Change and Challenge
Amid our turbulent political climate, shifting medical, research and educational landscapes, and the normal, but still challenging, ups and downs of life, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. March and April are filled with milestones, both exciting and stressful, some annual and some intermittent: Match Day, recruitment and admissions deadlines, accreditation visits for OT and PACS, GME site visits, and more. So, it is natural that our lives, influenced by an array of external factors and events, might seem beyond our control, causing stress and anxiety. It is worth pausing to ask: How are you caring for yourself? And how might we care for each other?
During such times, taking time for self-care, extending kindness to others, and nurturing a compassionate mindset can anchor us, providing stability and resilience. While some of this may seem self-evident, or even redundant to things I have written in the past, I am feeling the need to remind myself that there are things I can do, and that we can do collectively, to get through this. I thought some of you may want or need a reminder too.
Self-care isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity.
This is not something we do very well in healthcare and science. We are trained to be self-sacrificing and often that’s necessary because those sacrifices are sometimes essential to maintain our commitment to patients and society. But it is also true that to be your best self and to effectively care for others, we must first ensure our own wellbeing. Whether it’s sleep, exercise, meditation, time with loved ones, or simply breathing between meetings, tending to your physical and mental wellbeing is an act of service to yourself and those you support. Choose anything that works for you right now and keep looking for other things that are of interest; remember that WashU provides several resources. Tap into them, share them, and know it’s okay to start small.
Connection is a form of care.
Share your thoughts and feelings with those you love and trust, and don’t be afraid to ask for support. Human connections provide a sense of belonging and understanding. In my clinical and mentoring experiences, I find that people often feel alone. Social media and television can make us feel like life is perfect for others, and that we alone are deficient or somehow different in our suffering. But most of what we experience in life is shared by others, even others who we might not expect or who seem different from us. That is because most of the trials of life are common to the human experience. I have recently been reminded of the power of this by reconnecting with some old high school friends and national colleagues who I have known for decades.
Kindness creates belonging.
We never truly know the burdens others are carrying. Especially during difficult times and periods of stress, we will all miss the mark at times. Granting grace and assuming good intent helps create a supportive environment both here at work and at home. During a recent leadership training (see elsewhere in this newsletter), I was reminded of a few grounding practices:
- Listen actively. Truly listen to understand others’ experiences. Validate their feelings by reflecting back what you heard. Sometimes, being heard is all someone needs.
- Offer small acts of generosity. Simple gestures such as sending a thoughtful message or thank you note, helping someone with a door, or offering to help others with their work can brighten someone’s day and provide meaning to both parties.
- Encourage and affirm. Offer words of encouragement and positivity. Recognize and celebrate others’ strengths and achievements, no matter how small they might seem.
- Practice empathy. Try to understand situations from others’ perspectives. This helps in fostering a more united and supportive community.
- Be patient. Everyone reacts to change and stress differently. Exercise patience and provide a non-judgmental space for others to express themselves.
The challenges we face are not to be underestimated. However, by investing in self-care and extending kindness and compassion to those around us, we can navigate these stressful times together. Collective resilience is built through supportive relationships and shared efforts toward common goals. We are all in this together and together we will build a stronger, more empathetic, and more united community, one act of kindness at a time.
Stay well. Stay kind. Stay connected.