From surrendering to surviving winter pressures - Wellbeing guidance from 'You Okay, Doc?'
Dr Claire Agathou,
Ambassador at You Okay, Doc?, NHS GP Partner, A&E clinician,
Named GP Child Safeguarding, Clinical Examiner and Tutor
The winter pressure on the NHS is felt by all, in whatever field you work in. In both of my roles in General Practice and A&E, the volume of patients can often peak with very sick patients, both physically and mentally. Going to work and leaving when it is cold and dark means taking some extra measures to ensure my own health doesn’t suffer as a result. Here are my top tips for surviving the winter pressures:
1. Exercise/Don’t sack off your routine!
I always start my day with some form of exercise and although this means getting up a little earlier and getting out in the cold and dark, the feeling after I train gives me a good endorphin release, so I am not simply waking up to go to work.
On a personal level, I personally find group exercise classes a great means to push myself a little bit further and distract me from thinking about the day ahead plus it’s nice to be surrounded by other people not just from a medical background, similarly starting their day with some exercise.
2. Eat well
When we are working at peak pressures, it’s often easy to neglect our diet and grab whatever is quick and easy to boost our energy. If done occasionally, it isn’t problematic, but if we end up regularly eating biscuits and sweets and having a take away because we’re too exhausted to cook, it can start to affect our energy levels in other ways and make us feel low and sluggish.
I have found that over the weekend, planning what I am going to eat at work and for dinner helps me to keep some structure to my week and I enjoy food prepping in advance. I HATE getting hungry at work, so making sure I head in armed with a decent lunch and healthier snacks keeps my energy and mood in check during the busy, long days.
3. Don’t miss having lunch or a break!
All of us could easily find ourselves working right through as there is always so much to do. As a priority, make sure you make a point of time away from your desk, the wards and get some fresh air. Sitting with a colleague and having a coffee and a chat for 20 minutes can again give you some mental release and a re-surge of energy to get back to your jobs with more clarity, headspace, and vigour.
4. Show support to your colleagues
If you’re having a bad day, talk to someone and get support – whether it’s about something clinical or you simply need to chat. Also check out “The Huddle” with You Okay, Doc?. It’s held weekly on a Wednesday at 8pm.
I often attend this and feel so much happier after a friendly chat/rant with other clinicians from all over the UK and it really helps me personally feel a lot less isolated if I am having a particularly bad week and reminds me that there is a shared understanding that work is hard, and we too are human beings with our own emotions!!! (And that’s ok!!!)
5. Don’t neglect your personal life
Make sure you still make effort, just like we do for our huge number of professional responsibilities, to maintain our own personal and social lives. Make realistic plans that you see through, such as meeting up with friends and family and prioritise shutting off from work once the day is done.
Switch off your work emails and focus on your personal time when you leave for the day. On your days off, make them completely work free and find interests that are completely non-medical.
Remember, there is support out there if we need it. If you are struggling, don’t be ashamed and seek help promptly:
Text “YOD” to 85258 for free confidential 24/7 text support;
NHS Practitioner Health is a free support service to any Doctor; and
Speak to your own GP who, more than likely, has had a tough time and struggled themselves at some point in their professional and personal journey.