As a doctor, you find yourself working long hours, especially in an emergency. You may also find yourself feeling exhausted, depressed or burnt out from these long hours. After all, life as a medical professional can be a demanding one. When you do have a day off, it's important to make the most of it. You may be tempted to spend the day catching up on errands and chores, but when are you going to find time for self care? It's difficult to take care of your patients if you're not taking care of yourself. It's time to start practicing self care, so here are three tips on how to relax on your day off. Pamper Yourself From an emergency surgery to researching an ailment, it's not uncommon to feel tense or stressed as a doctor. Do not be afraid to use your day off to pamper yourself. You can give yourself a facial or manicure and pedicure right in your apartment. Use a soothing scent and candles to create a spa-inspired bathroom, and then treat yourself to a relaxing bubble bath. If you have a back or foot massager, put it to good use by relaxing your muscles. Practice Yoga or Meditation There are many mental and physical benefits of yoga and meditation. This is why you want to consider adding yoga or meditation to your routine on your day off. The physical and breathing exercises help you to practice mindfulness, which takes your mind off work by helping you to live in the moment. You can also try yoga and meditation before or after work, but you'll have more time to practice the exercises on your day off. Take A Lazy Day You're always on the go as a doctor, and when you add in your non-career related tasks, you may find yourself running ragged. Remind yourself that it's okay to take a lazy day. Sleep in an extra hour, binge watch your favorite show and order take out for dinner. If you need to meal prep or wash clothes for work, do it the night before so you can actually spend your day off being lazy. Sometimes, a day to yourself, doing absolutely nothing, is just what you need to recharge your batteries. If you relax on your day off, you'll be ready to take care of others when you head back to work.
