December Well-Being Tips

• Want to Change? Maybe You Need a Nudge. Yes, there is “Nudge Theory,” that says you can change other people’s behavior (or your own) by using motivational techniques most people respond to. In this Q&A, Katy Milkman, author and behavioral scientist at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, discusses the science of persuasion tools, also known as nudges.
• How Haiku Helped One Doctor with Pandemic Stress. Physicians and others in health care can forget their identity goes beyond their career. With the pandemic sparking increased depression, PTSD, and anxiety, Frank Clark, MD, a psychiatrist in North Carolina, decided he needed to do some introspection about who he was outside of work. Turned out, he’s a poet.
• Four (Great) Tips for De-stressing this Holiday Season. There’s always a little more pressure this time of year. Add rising COVID-19 cases and it doubles. You may ask yourself, “How do I fit in holiday activities and family responsibilities and still maintain the highest quality of care for my patients?” These basic tenets from Johns Hopkins Medicine are good sense for anyone but are particularly poignant for those in health care right now.