VICDOC Winter 2022 - Magazine - Page 13
DR LUCY CROOK
Chair Doctors in Training
Subdivision
Firstly, I find it’s important to
make time for and nurture
relationships with people in my
life outside of medicine. These
relationships allow me to put
things into perspective and
remind me that being a doctor
is a job, just like any other. I
also try not to be too hard on
myself when I fall short of my
‘health and wellbeing’ goals —
for example, diet and exercise
— if I just eat chips for dinner
occasionally or only go for a
10 minute walk instead of a half
hour run, that’s ok — I haven’t
failed! Finally, I find that my
involvement with AMA Victoria
advocating for the interests of
other junior doctors gives me
a great sense of achievement.
Finding this passion and doing
this work has had such a
positive effect on my health
and well-being!
"I f ind it’s important to
make time for and nurture
relationships with people in
my life outside of medicine".
DR JENNY HELLSING
GP + Ballarat
Subdivision Member
1. Meditation: Avoiding morning
traffic jams as a GP Reg meant
arriving well before the clinic
doors were unlocked, so I took
up a daily meditation practice,
which I have maintained.
2. Reflective practices: Regular
Balint group meetings, clinical
supervision sessions with a
psychologist and ad-hoc debrief
chats with colleagues.
3. Hobbies and interests: I
actively set aside time for
interests and passions that have
nothing to do with my career in
medicine. In no particular order:
gardening, furniture restoration
projects, practicing Swedish
language, DIY and home
improvements, reading,
camping and hiking.
4. Exercise and time in nature:
Some form of exercise, even
just 15mins a day, is a must.
Preferably outdoors.
5. Restricted social media use:
Whilst I do scroll my feed most
days, I am consciously not
very active or engaged with
social media.
6. Investing in relationships
and community: Fostering
relationships and taking part
in activities with others is
nourishing and makes me feel
part of a bigger whole.
7. Quality sleep: As much sleep
time as I can reasonably achieve
and practicing good sleep
hygiene habits.
8. Speak kindly to yourself:
There are enough negative
voices out there, I remind myself
not to add mine to them.
DR SIMON JUDKINS
Director of Emergency
Medicine, Echuca Health +
AMA Victoria Board Member
Looking after my mental health
is not something I do alone. I
rely on my family, friends, GP
and colleagues to help me along.
They may not actually know it,
but their support, their humour,
their connections are vital to
keep my work-related stresses
in check. Coming home, cooking
a meal for family and friends,
going out, exercising, all keep me
grounded… it reminds me that
life is much more than work and
work is not my life.
Saying that, I also remind
myself that, despite all the
stressors and frustrations I
may have while working in our
public hospital systems, with its
under-resourcing, it’s barriers
and bureaucracy, that the work I
do is valuable, even though “the
system” makes one feel very
under-appreciated at times. I
remind myself that over the last
25 years, I have done a lot of
good things (well, at least I think
so). I’ve had the opportunity to
guide others through troubled
times, positively influence young
minds, support multiple trainees
and colleagues and, along the
way, treat thousands of patients
and made a difference in their
lives, their health needs.
So, every time I have a bad
day, I reflect on all the good
things I’ve been able to do, all the
good people I’ve come to know
and remind myself that each
day, I have the chance to
help someone.
––
VI CD O C WI NTER 2022
13