ACP Well-being Champions: Winter Well-being Connection Resources
“I think the extreme complexity of medicine has become more than an individual clinician can handle. But not more than teams of clinicians can handle.”
—Atul Gawande, MD, MPH, Being Mortal
As the days get shorter and the nights get longer, we are reminded of the natural changes and cycles of life. In the winter months, there can be a natural tendency to slow down and “hibernate,” yet we want to be mindful of finding the balance between isolation and solitude. Winter is a time when we can let our well-being habits slide, and feelings of loneliness and disconnection can get loud, both for ourselves and for our patients. Loneliness can have far-reaching implications on a person's health and well-being, as we know from the advisory on the epidemic of loneliness and isolation from U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy, MD. Research shows that connection can lead to better health and well-being, protecting us against serious issues like heart disease, stroke, dementia, and depression. A 2023 study found significant levels of loneliness among medical staff that appeared strongly related to work setting and environment.
In much of the discussion on physician burnout and dysphoria, the loss of professional connections and relationships among physicians being a part of a professional community—is rarely mentioned as a source of professional unhappiness. Dr. Murthy recently teamed up with Chef José Andrés to create Recipes for Connection, a tool to help strengthen our relationships. At ACP, we look to help enhance your well-being by keeping you plugged in to a community of practice. Be sure to reach out to others and continue to make connections, especially over the winter months.
Check out the links below for resources you can use for yourself and others:
- Explore the Professional Fulfillment Zone, where you will find the latest updates from ACP's Professional Development and Fulfillment Team on peer coaching, financial well-being, and Well-being Champions (WBCs).
- Read about physician burnout, an initiative on determinants of health, and the connection between violence and mental health; also, connect to creative resources for well-being.
- Learn the importance of combatting loneliness in the workplace.
- Review Patients Before Paperwork and advocacy updates that affect physician well-being and professional fulfillment.
- Explore WBC coaching resources, including coaching sign-ups, the WBC contact list, a library of well-being interventions, and the WBC journey map. Find out how chapters can partner with WBCs (WBC Exclusive; must be signed in to ACP online).
- Utilize just-in-time well-being skills for yourself and to teach others, and explore tools to create a well-being program tailored to any organization's needs and budget.
- Visit the I.M. Emotional Support Hub and Video Series to learn more about individual and organizational strategies and resources to protect clinicians' emotional health and well-being.
We look forward to hearing from you! Post in the WBC community in the ACP Connect app and/or reach out to us via e-mail anytime with your thoughts and suggestions for newsletter topics and features.
Sincerely,
Your ACP Well-being Team
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