Life OUtside of work
Our hobbies and artistic endeavors are one of many methods that we may engage in to promote our own wellness. By pursuing our passions, we may focus on enjoyable tasks and offer outlets to express complex emotions, feelings, and frustration beyond what words in a conversation may communicate. It allows for the development of a positive identity while also preventing compassion fatigue. Having this opportunity to manage our burnout, stress, and anxiety does not only improve our own outlook, but has been demonstrated to improve that of patient outcomes and safety measures as well. This has been seen in many examples with improved scores after art therapy in both emotional exhaustion and feelings of depersonalization in both oncologists and palliative care doctors. It is not unreasonable to suspect this same benefit may be extended to emergency medicine physicians as well. Beyond this, even after short sessions, there is evidence for reduced tension, anger, fatigue, and many other symptoms of burnout.
Art and all of hobbies (from running to book collecting) provides an avenue for physicians to practice mindfulness, allowing a time for meditation, reflection, and a chance to navigate the complex feelings that are experienced daily on shift. There have been multiple studies showing the benefits of mindfulness in promoting wellness, mitigating stress, and reducing burnout.
We want to take this week to highlight what your hobbies that bring you fulfillment outside of work are! Share with a photo of your favorite collection, your favorite running trail, or your next mission and tell us why it brings you fulfillment or helps to improve your wellness. Return frequently for persistent updates from our social media campaign!
Flower Arrangement
I love working with flowers and plants. One of my favorite things to do has always been to buy myself flowers, just because. I have expanded upon that with far too many plants and actually making bouquets for fun, to gift, and for others. One friend asked me to do the flower arrangements for her wedding. Getting lost in front of all the flower choices at a store and carrying bunches to the counter is one of my favorite things.
- Amanda Deutsch, MD
Carpentry
There is something about building things that gives one a sense of pride, and deep respect for the craft.
- Stephanie Balint, MS
Ceramics
I discovered ceramics during a relatively spontaneous GNO (Girls Night Out) with some of the residents and faculty in our emergency medicine program. We made a mess playing in the mud; wine may have been consumed. Although the “masterpiece” bowl I made that evening was better suited as a doorstop, ceramics had me hooked.
Eight years and a pandemic later, making pottery is my happy place. Time disappears. It’s tactile. The clay has a mind of its own (what I think will be a vase suddenly decides it wants to be, say, a plate). It can blow up in the kiln, the glaze can melt and fuse the piece to the kiln shelf, or it can come out beautifully… and never be duplicated. It’s the perfect hobby to convince someone to live in the moment and be ready to just let things go.
This piece was one of my first attempts at clay sculpture. A knowledge of human anatomy does not guarantee translation into a ceramic facsimile, but I was pleased with the result. The glazing posed a challenge, and heaven knows what possessed me when I dripped green and brown glazes onto the heads. Complete with a succulent “hairdo,” this piece now sits on a table on our deck, facing me and my husband as we watch the sunset and toast the end of the day with a glass of wine.
- Diane Birnbaumer, MD
Astrophotography
For me, some of the most relaxing or rejuvenating moments happen when I find myself alone underneath an entire field of stars. There’s something about the vastness and immensity of the universe that seems to make my small problems fade away. It makes me feel connected to the rest of the population as well knowing they all are looking at a similar starfield. This exact photo was taken during the passing of Comet NEOWISE close to Earth which likely will not again happen in my lifetime. I finished a shift and spent the rest of the evening driving down to Joshua Tree National Park and relaxing underneath the starry sky. Though I felt tired, my shift the next morning found me emotionally refreshed and ready to tackle new challenges.
- Jonathan Warren, MD
Chalk Artwork
When not shut away studying for hours on end while stress shoving M&Ms in my face I enjoy hiking, brewing beers, and going to Pet Adopt-athons and snuggling baby animals. I also recently fell in love with Chalk Art! My boyfriend and his mom travel around the SE to chalk art festivals and I tagged along a few years ago and became hooked. Unlike other forms of art that can be ruined by a few stray lines, chalk is easily blendable and stackable allowing me to never feel afraid to make a stroke. This dynamic and anti-perfectionistic quality, along with the relaxing feel of the chalk itself, and the prismatic array of colors at my fingertips; it is all of these aspects of chalk art that help calm my brain during times of stress. I plan to continue this creative outlet during residency for continued wellness.
- Blaire Banfield, MD
Painting
I found painting to be a very therapeutic hobby. When I paint, I just think about the process of painting. I don’t think about bills , work, stress, patients, etc.... My brain is focused on the painting and gives my mind and body a break from the everyday stressors. Without painting, I think I would have burned out long ago, as the process of putting paint on a canvas, slows my brain down to process.
- Scott Goldstein, MD