As physicians, we have many incredibly hard days at work. Some of those days look like having multiple family meetings, delivering difficult news, worrying about whether your patient will do well, or just general busyness and sacrificing in order to make sure your patients are ok.

We all have days like this, and as a podcast that I recently heard said- these days wear on you after weeks, months, and years of doing this. These are some of the things I have been using to get rest after those hard days.

Leave work at work

I say this knowing that it is incredibly difficult and may even be impossible. Two things that have helped me- take 5 minutes and not think about what is happening at work or 5 minutes to think and worry about work before you let it go for the night. However you want to do it, leave the work at work. It will be still be there tomorrow.

Light a candle

Just the act of lighting a candle feels decadent to me. I think of it as letting my family know that I’m home and I’m present and the smell of the candle reminds me of the same. Its such a small thing that gives me such rest.

The candle burns as I do my dishes and reflect on the day or whatever I’m doing in the kitchen.

Shower/bathe in candlelight

One of my friends actually told me about this, saying that the lack of light actually helps the mind get ready for sleep.

For me, I know I am really into smells and the smell of the candle, just as above, makes me relaxed and makes me remember that I’m at home and not actually at work anymore.

Deep/cyclical breathing

This has been shown to help with decreasing stress levels. This certainly helps me during times that I’m carrying a lot of stress by helping me focus on something else just for a minute.

I personally like the “box breathing” or the “square breathing”. It helps me to focus on something else (literally taking deep breaths) besides whatever is in my mind.

Journaling/ Meditation/Prayer

As I said in a previous post- narrative medicine helped me a lot with processing patient’s stories and outcomes and the things that happened to them.

Journaling, praying, or reciting verses help me to calm down after particularly stressful days.

These are just some of the ways that I have found to cool off and relax after stressful days as a physician. Hope this helps some of you!

Love,

AD