On behalf of the Resident Wellness Team, we are thrilled to welcome the new cohort of resident doctors to the UBC Faculty of Medicine this July 2024! As you embark on this exciting journey, this new medical landscape will offer you opportunities filled with growth, learning, and collaboration amongst your peers. We want to start by acknowledging that your dedication and hard work have brought you here, but know that you are not alone on this path forward. We are committed to supporting you every step of the way. Over the past 11 years, the Resident Wellness Office has supported over 10,000 residents and understands the rigors and challenges that come with residency. As with peaks, there will also be valleys but we are available to support throughout your medical training. We can provide support for: mental health & moods, time management, work-life balance, coping with burnout, loss or life transition, connecting to a Peer Supporter or joining a support group.
Research has shown that the three factors most strongly correlated with emotional burnout are keeping to oneself, proceeding as if nothing happened, and immediately moving on to the next task. We know residency can exacerbate these tendencies due to its demanding nature. To ensure your success, one of our Wellness Counsellors, Elizabeth Sabine, has curated some helpful tips to support you in navigating these first few months.
1) Don’t Be a Jerk to Yourself
Residency will likely be one of the most difficult things you undertake. Acknowledge this try having some extra grace with yourself.
2) Watch Out for the Self-Critic
When you make a mistake or feel you’re not measuring up, pay attention to the voice in your head. Is it a harsh critical voice? Saying really mean things? Residents often share with us that their negative inner critic is what keeps them on track, working hard, and never giving up. However, they’ve also shared the effects of that inner critic can sometimes be increased anxiety, burnout, low mood, and low self worth. Researcher Kristen Neff shares that practicing self compassion, rather than harsh self criticism, actually has the same end results for people, but without the negative side effects of depression and anxiety.
3) Use the BFF Technique
How do you practice self compassion? Here’s an easy strategy. Would you ever say the critical things you say to yourself to a friend? When negative self-talk arises, imagine what you would say to your best friend that was going through something similar as you. Would you criticize them? Surely not. Try saying the words you would say to them, to yourself. This might feel uncomfortable at first, but with practice it gets a lot easier to do and believe.
4) Avoid Comparisons
Every resident has their own unique inner world. Comparing yourself to others is unhelpful and unfair. As the saying goes, ‘comparison is the theft of joy’. You have no idea what people are going through in their personal lives, what’s happened to them in their past, or the inner struggles they are coping with. The story you are telling yourself about them and how perfect they are, or how much better they are then you is simply not true and ends up making you feel awful.
5) Meeting Expectations is Enough
In residency, simply meeting expectations can feel underwhelming, but treat that as a significant achievement. Everyone in the room is brilliant, including you!
By practicing these wellness tips, we hope you will be a little kinder, compassionate, and gentle on yourself as you manage the pressures of residency and maintain your emotional well-being. Prioritizing your well-being is key to thriving during your residency and beyond. We encourage you to explore all the resources available through the Resident Wellness Office and get connected if you are seeking supports. Welcome once again, and we look forward to supporting you on this incredible journey!
