GPs are under enormous pressure, which can take a toll on their own health and well-being.
Improve your well-being and get help and advice when you need it from the links below.
Five ways to improve your well-being
You will care for thousands of patients over your career, but how often do you take time to care for you?
As a doctor you might forget, or be too busy to remember, how important your own health and well-being is.
The New Economics Foundation (NEF) Five Ways to Well-being: The Evidence
The New Economics Foundation works with people igniting change from below and fights for change at the top and has set out five activities we should all do to cultivate well-being in ourselves and in others.
Connect
Make time for family and friends, and time for you to feel supported by them. Discuss things with your colleagues, not just your patients. Get to know your neighbors and be part of your local community. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.
Take notice
Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Notice the seasons change and everyday sights and sounds, perhaps on your way to work or when connecting with friends. Be mindful. Try meditation.
Keep learning
Learning new things can be enjoyable and improve your confidence. Embrace new experiences. Try something new and look for new opportunities.
Be active
Discover a physical activity you enjoy and that suits you. Perhaps you can make time for a walk or run. Regular physical activity is associated with lower rates of depression and anxiety. Exercise is essential for slowing age-related cognitive decline. Be a part of ‘Move for your health, Jamaica’ – Ministry of Health & Wellness, Jamaica
Give Look out, as well as in. Do something nice for a friend or stranger. Even when you are a busy GP, this can be as simple as saying thank you. If you feel that you have more time to give, you might want to join a community group or volunteer your time. When you see yourself as part for the wider community and feel connected you create happiness in yourself and in others.
Our Mental Health
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
Mental Health Basics
What Is Mental Health? | MentalHealth.gov
World Health Organization on Mental Health