Coach Yourself Through the Crisis
Physicians are working at their limits right now. Pushed to extremes, physically and mentally. Being pulled in different directions by our obligations to medicine, our patients and our families.
It really is the perfect storm of duty, circumstances and a scenario that a few months ago would have seemed more at home on the screen of a movie theater rather than being played out in real life. Such a storm cannot fail to stir up uncertainty, change and the need to develop new ways of working and living all whilst dealing with so many tough emotions and dilemmas.
Under normal circumstances physicians facing such challenges would have the time and opportunity to seek the support of a coach. Right now those doctors are putting in long, intensive shifts and are exhausted from doing so. The possibility of finding time to meet with a coach will be for many an unrealistic option despite the huge potential for a coach to help at this time of crisis.
By taking a few key coaching concepts it’s simple to learn to be your own coach through this crisis. All you need is a quiet 5 minutes - on your break, in the bathroom, sitting in your car before you drive home or whilst you’re in the shower. The place doesn’t matter just the opportunity to listen to yourself.
Identify what you’re feeling.
Two minutes of quiet reflection is sufficient to establish clarity over what you are feeling. It is very common to initially identify what you’re feeling by using a buzzword. “Busy, tired and stressed” are among some of the most widely used words but try to go beyond this. Ask yourself to explain your feeling in a little more detail and you’ll get closer to the real feeling or thought behind the buzzword.
Sit with the feeling.
Allow yourself to sit with the emotion or feeling for a little while. It’s refreshing to realise that you aren’t just “exhausted”, perhaps you are preoccupied by the patients that you saw today and they are weighing on your mind.
Make it manageable.
Having identified what is bothering you, it is now possible to break it into manageable pieces. It will be easier to see if there are any possibilities to put plans into action to help you move forwards or whether this is something that you really can’t do much about.
Action or Acceptance
If you see ways to help yourself then jot down or make a mental note of what it is that needs to happen. Having a plan of action will make it easier for you to work through the necessary steps towards a quieter mind.
If there really is nothing you can do then let yourself experience the emotion you are feeling. Recognising it and sitting with your feelings gives credibility to what you are experiencing. After allowing yourself this period of reflection you will be able to keep going with your day. Maybe these feelings and emotions won’t come up again but if they do recognise that this is ok. Go back through these steps to see if anything has changed.
Any emotion, feeling or reaction at present has to be considered as a normal reaction to a very abnormal situation. Being able to coach yourself through moments when you aren’t able to access a coach is a powerful skill that you can use again and again. With practice you’ll be coaching yourself without even realising it!
