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BLOG: Making time for a day of rest is critical for physicians
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“I can do 7 days of work in 6, but not 7,” Benjamin N. Cardozo, a former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, once said.
A rich tradition in Judeo-Christian custom is the observance of the Sabbath, or the day of rest. The older (and wiser) I become, the more having a day of rest has gained real meaning for me. The physical and emotional benefits of a day of respite are innumerable and time off is essential for resiliency. Down-time should be penciled in every week, as the benefits of vacation tend to wane in a matter of weeks.
For workaholics and workaholics in recovery, it would be wise to adopt a sacred day of rest for many reasons.
Rest your nervous system
The continual hyper-alert state required by numerous cases, countless patient encounters and on-call obligations can extract a toll on nerves. We tend to become hypersensitive to external stimuli and quickly morph into hyper-reactive mode.
Only by retreating from laptops, cell phones and electronic medical records for a defined quantum of time can our sensory organs recover. Furthermore, studies have shown that downtime is essential for the consolidation of memory and skills. All the journal reading in the world won’t amount to much unless time is allotted to process it.
Family time
When we dedicate 1 day for family activities, many magical and positive byproducts manifest. First, our families (and we ourselves) look forward to the sacred day with great expectancy. The mere notion of having something fun in the future can help buoy one’s mood, as well as the moods of those we love. The most poignant memories I have of my children usually involve a Sunday — our designated family day.
Mindfulness
By taking a retreat from our vocation, we are inching closer to a more mindful and less stressed state. When we can give 1 day to our loved ones and be totally present to them in every event, the memories and closeness forged will potentially last a lifetime. Our loved ones need us — all of us. One dedicated day will reinforce our significance in the lives of our spouses and children. We may not make every game or rehearsal, but one special day will help satisfy a spouse’s or child’s needs for intimacy. The evidence for mindfulness as a means to prevent burnout is mounting, and observing a personal Sabbath is a great place to start.
Clarity
Ironically, when we are absent from work, we develop clarity and see life and our vocation more realistically. Valid perspective is obtained and freedom from compulsive thought will empower us to make more effective and fruitful decisions. Once brain equilibrium is reached and all the static of the week has dissipated, we can approach life with a “full deck.”
References:
Dein S, et al. J Relig Health. 2013;doi:10.1007/s10943-013-9757-3.
Westphal M, et al. J Affect Disord. 2015;doi:10.1016/j.jad.2014.12.038 Apr.