Embracing Rest: Lessons from COVID

Flatline ...........................................................

That sound. It haunted me during the pandemic. As an ER doctor, I heard it far too often. Each beep of the heart monitor, as well as the moment of silence that followed, felt like a weight pressing down on my chest. But today, I'm not here to talk about death. I'm here to talk about life—and how COVID taught me to truly live it.

After months of relentless ER work, caring for COVID patients—sometimes without masks and without breaks—I contracted COVID for the first time a few weeks ago. Doing so forced me to do something I had avoided for years: rest. Really, truly rest. And let me tell you, it was a revelation. In the chaos of emergency medicine, I had always prided myself on my ability to push through fatigue and keep going no matter what. Yet the virus stripped that away and demanded I confront my own limits.

We live in a world that glorifies hustle. We pop stimulants, work 80-hour weeks, and wear our exhaustion like a badge of honor. The societal pressure to be perpetually productive can be overwhelming. However, as I discovered the hard way, getting 8 hours of sleep is more beneficial than any stimulant. Sleep is not a luxury; it is a necessity for our physical and mental well-being. Research has shown that adequate sleep improves cognitive function, emotional regulation, and overall health (Walker, A. 2017).

During the pandemic, we relished in rest. We wrote posts, articles, and shot videos exclaiming the lessons learned from burnout, stress, and overwork. However, it seems that the farther we get from the pandemic, the more we forget this crucial lesson. We’re sliding back into our old, frantic rhythms, prioritizing work over well-being. But I'm here to remind you—and myself—that it's okay to slow down. In fact, it's more than okay. It's essential.

"We are not just healthcare providers; we are human beings with needs, emotions, and limits."

So here's my challenge to you: take a nap. Go to bed early. Say no to that extra project. Give yourself permission to rest. Because here's the thing—you cannot pour from an empty cup. Trust me, as someone who's stood over too many flatlined patients, life is too precious to spend it running on fumes.

It's okay to not be okay. It's okay to need rest. It's okay to slow down. During the pandemic, many healthcare professionals realized that this has been a journey. The emotional toll of witnessing suffering, coupled with the demands of our roles, has led to unprecedented levels of burnout in our field (Shanafelt, T., 2020).

As I reflect on my own experiences, I recognize that the pandemic has forced us all to reevaluate our priorities. We are not just healthcare providers; we are human beings with needs, emotions, and limits. It’s vital to acknowledge that self-care is not selfish; it is a prerequisite for being able to care for others effectively.

This is Dr. Pam Buchanan, reminding you to take care of yourself. Because you matter. Your health matters. And sometimes, the most productive thing you can do is rest.

References

Shanafelt, T., et al. (2020). Burnout and Satisfaction With Work-Life Integration Among US Physicians Relative to the General US Population. Archives of Internal Medicine, 180(3), 327-329.

Walker, A. (2017). Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams. Scribner.