Lifestyle medicine mitigates burnout, prioritizes wellness
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Young ophthalmologists should consider lifestyle medicine to form healthy habits early in their career to avoid burnout and prioritize wellness, according to a presentation from Real World Ophthalmology.
“We all know, unfortunately, that burnout will affect many of us at some point in our career,” E. Shanika Esparaz, MD, said. “And we often think of that ER doctor that’s mid to late career, but no — burnout can happen early in our career.”
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Lifestyle medicine focuses on six areas that may improve health: diet, physical activity, sleep, stress management, avoidance of substances and social relationships.
“A lot of this stuff makes sense. It’s just about putting it into practice,” Esparaz said.
While managing burnout is multifaceted, these six pillars provide a baseline that ophthalmologists can use to prioritize wellness. Esparaz recommended switching to a diet based on plant-based proteins, fiber and healthy fats and striving for 150 to 300 minutes of moderately intense physical activity or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous activity per week.
“For every 200 minutes of brisk walking per week, we can extend our life by almost 3 years. That’s pretty amazing,” she said.
According to Esparaz, research has shown that social connection — which is often overlooked — is one of the most important factors for happiness and a long life.
“So, invest in those relationships throughout your career,” she said. “They are good for your mind and body and soul.”
There are many factors that contribute to burnout, such as overwork, sleep deprivation, staffing shortages, excessive charting demands and lack of adequate support, but lifestyle medicine may offer a beneficial starting point for prioritizing wellness.
“I really encourage you to look into lifestyle medicine,” Esparaz said.
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Esparaz S. Physician heal thyself. Presented at: Real World Ophthalmology; Sept. 30, 2023 (virtual meeting).
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