Simple Steps to Improving Well-being
Watch physician well-being advocate Cliff Knight, MD, FAAFP, AAFP Senior Vice-President for Education, as he interviews author and wellness advocate Deepak Chopra, MD. Knight and Chopra discuss simple steps to take each day to reduce stress and improve well-being.
Conversation Highlights
- You can't feel gratitude and hostility at the same time, says Chopra. Intentional gratitude shifts your attention from resentments, grievances, anger, and fear.
- According to Chopra, intentional gratitude can immediately shift your biology to go from high cortisol and adrenaline levels to flood your system with serotonin and dopamine opiates, and a peptide identified as anandamide, which correlates with feelings of joy and happiness.
- Using simple tools, such as breathing exercises and making sure you stay socially connected with others each day can help relieve stress and improve overall health.
- Work-life balance involves prioritizing and being disciplined. Scheduling time to do the things that are important to well-being can help physicians achieve more balance each day.
See Also
- A New Perspective on Stress
- Find Your Inner Balance
- Becoming a More Relaxed, Healthy Physician -- Free CME: 1.25 AAFP Prescribed Credits
- Reduce Stress and Thrive Through Mindfulness
- Change Your Mindset to Support Your Well-being(1 page PDF)
- Clinician Well-being Knowledge Hub(nam.edu) -- National Academy of Medicine
How Are You Doing?
Assess your level of burnout and take steps to improve your well-being.
Create a Plan.
Identify, customize, and track your well-being goals with the AAFP's Well-being Planner.
See Also
- A New Perspective on Stress
- Find Your Inner Balance
- Becoming a More Relaxed, Healthy Physician -- Free CME: 1.25 AAFP Prescribed Credits
- Reduce Stress and Thrive Through Mindfulness
- Change Your Mindset to Support Your Well-being(1 page PDF)
- Clinician Well-being Knowledge Hub(nam.edu) -- National Academy of Medicine
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