DearAll‐
HappyFebruary‐
Thankyoutoallwhoattendedtheworkshop“EmotionallyPreparingforStep1.”Wehad
greatattendanceandwonderfulreviews.ThankyouDr.Nilsson.
Forthismonth,Iwanttohighlighthowimportantitisforstudentsnottolosesightoftheir
self‐care.
Ihavebeenspendingalotoftimeaskingyoutoattendtoyouremotionalhealthwhichof
courseisapriority,butIdon’twantyoutostopattendingtootheraspectsofyourhealth.
Pleasedon’tletthedemandsofmedicalschoolleadyoutoforgetyourphysicalhealth
whichincludeshealthyeating,physicalpursuitsandahugeone–SLEEP.Itcanbeso
temptingtocutyourselfshortonrestwhenyouarefeelingthepressuretostudy.Please,
remember,youwillretainmoreinformationwhenyouarerested.Takecareifyouare
bikingordrivinghomeafteralongdaystudyingorhadalongshiftataclinicalrotation.
Also,pleasereachouttomeifyouarestrugglingtofigureouthowtoaccessaPCPor
dentist.
CheckoutthelinktothisimportantcommentaryfromtheStudentDoctorNetworkwritten
byamedicalstudent.
http://www.studentdoctor.net/2014/11/self‐care‐in‐medical‐school‐a‐lesson‐from‐the‐
heart/
The author highlights:
“ Desire to help others is of course why most of us chose medicine; the desire to learn is the
other major reason. Self-sacrifice is another major value; healthcare professionals often
sacrifice free time, a smaller workload, etc. in order to care for people. However, no doctor
can do this effectively without caring for him or herself. The doctors that provide the best
care to the patients are also taking care of themselves. As a medical student, it is critical to
begin the discipline of self-care now. Medical student burnout is a real thing, so make time to
take care of yourself.”
Speakingoftakingcareofyourselfphysically,Iwantedtosharemytwonewwellness
activities‐Iamtryinghardtogetmoving!!

IfoundthisPDFwhichgivesroutesforwalksrighthereoncampus:
http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/hr/wellness/_docs/walk%20map.pdf

Also,inmyeffortstofindthebestAppsforyouall‐ItriedoutSWORKIT‐Iloveit!
Youcandesignyourownworkoutandnoneedtogettoagym.
WellnessOpportunitiesforFebruary:
MedicalStudentEvents:
1.February8th–CareerSatisfactionbyWayOfResiliency
DeanFreischlagwillleadthecommunityinanimportantdiscussionaboutmaintaining
resiliencyinthefaceofthemanyworkdemandsandgoals.Dr.Freischlag’spresentation
willbefollowedbyapanelofotherUCDMCcommunitymemberswhowillcontinuethe
dialogueaboutresiliencyandtakecommentsandquestionsfromtheaudience.
l
2.February18th:BreakfastandMindfulness
Thisisaneventopentoallmedicalstudents.Pleasecomeandenjoycoffeeandbreakfastwithyour
fellowstudentsandfriendsANDtryoutsomehelpfulmindfulnessexercisesthatcanfostergood
physicalandemotionalhealth.Socialsupportandmindfulness–twogreatwellnesspursuits.
3.ForOurMedicalStudentParents:
IntroducingSolidsandWeanin
Thursday,February18,2016
Facilitator:ShirleyGerman,IBCLC,RLC/UCDavisBreastfeedingProgram
Time:11:30am‐1:00pm
Location:TiconIII,HumanResources,3BConferenceRoom
UCDMC/CampusOpportunities:
1.Meditation
Monday,February8,2016
Time:12:00‐1:00pm
Location:GlassrockBuilding,Room7106
2.WellnessFair2016
Wednesday,February24,2016
11:30am–1:30pm
MarriottBallroom‐Sacramento
WorkLifeandWellnessofUCDavisOneHRinvitesyoutoitsannualWellnessFairwhere
youwillhavetheopportunitytocelebratewellness!UCDavisHealthSystemDepartments
andavarietyofbusinessesandorganizationscenteredaroundwellnesswillbeavailableto
provideinformationabouttheirprogramsandfree/discountedservices!
3.RelaxationDayattheArboretum
 Saturday,February20,1:00‐3:00LawnareawestoftheArboretumGazebo.
 TheArboretumispartneringwiththecampus“MindSpa’tohelpyoude‐
stress!Participateinayogaclass,coloringworkshopandmuchmore!Allages
welcome.
Finally‐mywellnesstechniqueforthemonth‐Alittleself‐compassioncanhelp
balanceyouemotionallyandphysically.
ResourcesforRecoveringResilience:CultivatingSelf‐Compassion
(LindaGraham)
1. Bringtomindamomentwhenitwasrelativelyeasyforyouto“feelwith”someone
else’sheartacheorsorrow.Yourneighborstrugglestocarryheavybagsofgroceries
upthedrivewaywitharecentlybrokenankle.Yourcousinlosthisluggagetwo
airportsbackbeforehearrivedatyourhouseforaweekendvisit.Your8‐yearold
waslateforanafterschoolmeet‐upandtheschoolbustookofffortheclasspicnic
withouthim;hecamehomeandcollapsedintears.Yourcatsprainedhishipjumping
downfromtoohighakitchencounter,andhaslimpedaroundthehouseforthree
days.
2. Imaginethisperson,childorpetsittinginfrontofyou.Youcouldevenimaginea
childorpetactuallysittinginyourlap.Noticeanywarmth,concern,goodwillarising
inyourownheartasyousitwiththem.Feelthe“feelingwith,”theempathy,
compassionandloveflowingfromyourbody,yourhearttothem,sittingwithyou.
3. Whenthefeelingsofempathy,compassionandlovearesteadyenough,shiftgearsa
bitandrememberamomentwhenyouwerefacingyourowndifficulty,an“Ouch;this
istough;thishurts.”Howeverbigorsmall,letyourselffeelthepainofyourownpain
foramoment.
4. Thenreturntothefeelingsofwarmth,concern,goodwillyoufeltforthepersonor
childorpetyouwerefirst“feelingwith.”Withoutchanginganything,simplyre‐direct
thisflowofempathy,compassionandloveforthemtoyourself.Letyourselfreceive
yourowncareandconcern,youownempathyandcompassionforyourownpain,for
whateverhashappened,whateveryou’vedoneorfailedtodo,atanyageorlevelof
yourpsychethatneedstoreceiveit.Youmayexpressthisfeelingtowardyourselfin
words,“Maythissufferingpass…Maythingsresolveforme….MayIfeellessupset
overtime.”
5. Letyourselftakeinfeelingunderstoodandnurtured.Letyourownheartrelaxintoa
morepeacefulsenseofunderstanding,compassion,andforgiveness,lettingtheself‐
compassionsoakinandsettleinyourbody.Letitre‐wireyoursenseofyourselfin
thisverymoment.
6. Reflectonyourexperienceofthisexercise.Noticeanysenseofopennessorapproach
toyourownexperiencesnow.Noticeifthisapproachstanceopensuppossibilities
forchangeandresolutionofthedifficultiesthathaveconcernedorhurtyoubefore.
Asyoucultivatean“approach”stancetowardexperience,youarecreatingmoreresponse
flexibilityinyourbrain,thuscreatingtheconditionsformoreresilience.
Thankyouandasalwaysdonothesitatetocontactme‐
MaggieRea
mrea@ucdavis.edu
(916)703‐WELL