Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…
Jeff welcomes to the mini-podcast family physician and author, Dr. Jenny Brockis.
Jenny always wanted to run a family practice. That was her dream and she achieved that dream. But being a perfectionist, a high-achiever, and a workaholic, she never knew when to stop pushing herself. Eventually, she burned out and lost her practice. This experience taught her a lot about the importance of focusing on well-being in the medical industry.
As surgeons, we’re doing ourselves a disservice by treating ourselves like machines rather than humans. We actually perform much better when we acknowledge those physiological limits that we often ignore because we’re so caught up with our passion and sense of purpose. It’s one thing to love your work, but you don’t want to (or need to) sacrifice your life for it.
What steps does Jenny suggest we do to improve our well-being?
- Step 1 – Take micro breaks. These short 1-2 minute micro-breaks throughout the day, or even in surgery, to help you re-energize.
- Step 2 – Take midi breaks. These are longer (10-30 minute) breaks that can take the form of lunch or coffee breaks by yourself or with friends/colleagues.
- Step 3 – Take macro breaks. These can take the form of weekend or weeks long vacations and will help you fully recharge.
Most importantly, PRACTICE giving yourself a break!
Guest: Dr. Jenny Brockis MB ChB (Brist) FALSM
As a child Dr. Jenny’s favorite bedtime story was “How the Elephant Got His Trunk.” Like the elephant, she was insatiably curious, which also got her into a bit of trouble, like the time she set the kitchen on fire during a chemistry experiment.
Her curiosity led to a career in medicine, but she only discovered her true calling after burning out. Today as an international speaker, best-selling author and workplace consultant her mission is to make work, work better by making mental wellbeing the norm and burnout redundant. www.drjennybrockis.com