How to Stay Calm and Focused in the Face of Uncertainty

This week Rachel is joined once more by Dr Caroline Walker, otherwise known as The Joyful Doctor to look at what on earth has happened over the past 6 months and what we can anticipate in the coming months.It’s fair to say that we’re currently in an adjustment phase, learning how to work and live to the current rules, anticipating changes to these rules and processing this seismic shift from how our lives used to operate.We’re seeing burnout from overwork, anxiety over the uncertain future and a general sense of grief and loss.It’s common for people to vent their anger towards those they feel safe with. We’re being asked to do more than ever and we need a plan to manage this. Consider the example of a professional footballer. If they were asked to play for 3 hours instead of 90 minutes what would they do? Devise a break plan, factor in more nutrition, add more to their team and so on. When we have extra pressure applied, what are we doing to make sure we can cope?There are things that will be out of your control right now, so Rachel and Caroline give a reminder about the ‘Zone of Power’ and how this powerful tool can bring you a sense of calm and empowerment.One ultimate top tip from Rachel and  Caroline; Learn to leave things unfinished.This sounds unlikely but they present a good argument for its benefits.Useful Tools and Resources:Sign up here to receive a link to the CPD form downloads for each podcast which you can use for reflection and to submit for your appraisal. https://www.shapestoolkit.com/podcast-CPD-formsLooking for resilience training for your team, your organisation or your CCG or GP Training Hub? Find out more about her online and face to face courses for doctors and other professionals on surviving and thriving at work.For more episodes of You are not a frog, check out our website https://youarenotafrog.com/Sign up to our mailing list here for loads of useful resources about thriving at work You can also join the Shapes Collective Facebook group where we chat about the hot topics and regularly post interesting articles 24 hour support for NHS staff: Call 0300 131 7000 between 7am and 11pm or text FRONTLINE to 85258 24/7.BMA Wellbeing Service The NHS Practitioner Health Programme Podcast Links:Download the free ‘Stop, Start, Continue Checklist’ tool hereDownload a free handout about how to stay in your Zone of Power The Happiness Trap: Stop Struggling, Start Living by Russ HarrisContact Rachel LinkedIn @Dr-Rachel-lMorris https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-rachel-morris/Twitter @DrRachelMorrisrachel@wildmonday.co.uk

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The podcast for GPs, hospital doctors and other professionals in high-stakes, high-stress jobs who want to thrive rather than just survive. You studied for years, you’re really good at what you do but you’ve noticed that you’re starting to feel overwhelmed, overworked and under-resourced. You may be comparing yourself to a frog in boiling water - the heat has built up so slowly that you haven’t noticed the extra-long days becoming the norm. You may feel on the edge and trapped in the very job that you’ve spent years working towards. Here’s the problem, frogs only have two choices; stay and be boiled alive, or jump out of the pan. The good news is that you are not a frog. You have many more choices than you think you do. You don’t have to quit, and nor should stress and burnout be inevitable. It is possible to be master of your own destiny, to craft your work life and career so that you can thrive even in the most difficult of situations. There are simple changes you can make which will make a huge difference to your stress levels and help you enjoy life again. Your host is Dr Rachel Morris, GP turned Executive Coach and Specialist in Resilience at Work who knows what it’s like to feel like an exhausted frog. In the podcast, she’ll be talking to friends, colleagues and experts all who have an interesting take on resilience for clever people in high-stakes, high-stress jobs so that together you can take back control to beat stress and burnout, survive and thrive.