A Pathology Fellow’s Holiday Survival Strategy: Keep Calm and Breathe

Love the holidays, but not the stress? Don’t forget to breathe deeply! It may sound silly. In reality, it’s actually very calming and meditative and has many benefits for professional well-being.¹

Deep breathing periodically is one strategy that pathology fellow Anne Chen, MD, uses to keep her focused during an otherwise hectic season.

“Keeping an overall calm and holistic view on everything is important,” she says. “Stress is only stress if we feel anxiety about possible negative outcomes. Of course, planning ahead is important, but I think keeping calm is important.”

A focus on mindfulness has become a part of her “toolkit” for dealing with life’s everyday stressors. “Mindful living involves concentrating on completing every task, every day, without concurrent judgment and without the wish that we were doing something else at that moment,” she adds.

For example, when Dr. Chen finds herself suddenly saddled with extra tasks during the holidays and time is of the essence, she directs her undivided attention on the task at hand rather than the alternative – “hating it and creating more mental stress, which can cause mistakes to occur,” she explains.

“At the end of the day and the busy holiday season, try to take a few deep breaths and realize that you’ll be OK. And try to enjoy each moment,” Dr. Chen advises.

Resources

1. University of British Colombia Faculty of Medicine. Practicing Mindfulness: Tips and Experiences from Residents, July 7, 2017. https://postgrad.med.ubc.ca/2017/07/07/practicing-mindfulness-tips-and-experiences-from-residents/. Accessed Nov. 21, 2019.