Tip #1 – Relax! Don’t worry so much
A common theme at the moment is mental health and wellbeing, but many young doctors forget just how important looking after yourself mentally and physically is.
Anxiety is a common feeling when going through change – and while some deal with it well, others take time and can struggle with it. Naga pointed out that one of the challenges of going through both her first Intern Year and the COVID-19 pandemic was absolutely the limitation of interacting with other young doctors, peers and mentors at a social level. While this may also be a challenge for the graduating classes of 2020 – the ability to connect in many ways previously not fully utilised is in abundance now! Facebook groups, other Social Media platforms such as LinkedIn and Instagram, and your local AMA body are important ways to both interact with others and access valuable content both professionally and personally for development and support.
Tip #2 – Take everything as a learning opportunity
The role of an Intern is still one of learning – and although you know more than you realise, part of learning is being supported and reaching out for help when you need it. This is particularly important for the aspects of being a doctor that you simply can’t prepare yourself for, like the reality of communicating the passing of someone to a family.
An important reminder from Naga is that Nurses are your best friend to both support you but also to learn from!
Tip #3 – Snack and read!
Snacks will get you through long shifts. And coffee too. And although it’s hard to comprehend the concept of free time, turning your mind to some excellent books provides a great way to switch off and learn at the same time. For those interested in a medical read, Naga recommends Adam Kaye’s “This is going to hurt” which is about junior doctors in the NHS. If you’re looking for a nice change from everything medical, then “The Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern is worthwhile, even if it takes you all year to read!
As the ancient philosopher Lao Tzu said: A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. While you may feel like you have already covered that distance, and some, the journey is just beginning for young Doctors embarking on their internship year.
Credabl is a long term supporter of Junior Doctors and at any stage of your career can help with what we specialise in – finance options. However, we take our ‘partner’ tag with the industry very seriously and always have on offer relevant content, events (COVID-19 pending), blogs and webinars that focus not just on your financial wellbeing but also your personal wellbeing.