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Taking Care Of Myself First as a Busy Doctor

7/2/2018

1 Comment

 
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Dr Amelia Stephens is a GP living and working in Brisbane. She works in a busy clinic as well as teaching students and researching medical topics at the University of Queensland. She has studied for many years herself and has learned a lot about the importance of taking care of herself during work and study.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over my time working as a doctor, is that if I don’t take such great care for myself first, I cannot do the same for my patients. Every day I go to work and there are many people to see -  to help, diagnose and guide through the treatment of different illnesses as well as life problems. As a GP, we don’t just treat physical illnesses, but also do a lot to help people in general with their lives.


I love being able to support people as part of my job, and the support that I provide would not be anywhere near possible if I didn’t take really great care of myself first.

​Growing up, and when I was studying, I didn’t take as good care of myself as I do now – which was part of my learning. I imagine how much less exhausted I would have been with my studies, and potentially how much more I could have learned, had I taken much greater care with myself from the start.

There are some key things that I do now, that mean I take care of myself first:
  1. Whenever I can, I go to bed early. I know I sleep best, and feel refreshed if I consistently go to bed around 9pm. Sometimes I can’t, and that’s ok – I’ve also developed ways to be very settled in the evening so that late nights don’t affect me so much. I love settling myself into my bed at night, and winding down beforehand I know is very, very important for the quality of my sleep.
  2. I eat foods that I know my body loves (actually loves) – which means foods that nourish me from the inside out. I ate a fair amount of junk food growing up, and it definitely did not make my body feel vital and full of energy. I love making myself healthy and delicious meals now, and my body definitely thanks me for it!
  3. I make time to appreciate the things I am doing well, and also how valuable I am. I know I am not valuable because I am a doctor, I’m valuable because I take all of me and my wisdom to what I do as a doctor. If I was to do any other job it would be the same, and it would be equally important. Taking time to appreciate the specific things we do well, and bring to those around us – just by being us - is really important. There’s no one just like me or you, which means we all have a very important part to play.

These 3 things I now do consistently, but it has taken some practice. I love taking care of myself first, and it actually means I can do so much more to help take care of those around me too.
 
By Amelia Stephens
Photography by Dean Whitling
1 Comment

Getting a job: Growing your Bank Account AND You

30/12/2017

7 Comments

 
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Working with young people in the Job Services sector, Sarah Davis sees first hand the value of getting a job and the contribution young people can make to their own lives, as well as to the wider community.

I love my job. I support young people to get work.  I love seeing the transformation that occurs when they start working – some for the first time, others after some work experience through school or voluntary work. They walk a little taller, feel more confident, have a solidness about them that was always there but seems to come out more.

Learning new skills and having experiences certainly grows us as individuals. But it is more than that. When you work, you contribute. When you work you are in relationship with others and the world. Work gives us purpose, and whatever it is that we may be doing - hospitality, retail, construction or administration - that purpose is to bring ourselves to the world.

Everyone has their own expression to bring. A young woman I know is quiet as she serves coffees and the customers love the fact that she remembers their name and what they want. Another young woman is outgoing and talks openly with her customers about her dogs at home and what she did on the weekend. They love her openness and the fact that she seems interested in their life too. Another young woman I know works really well in a team and is naturally a leader of others through her respect, sense of equality and honesty.
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We all have something unique and special to bring to the world – the essence of who we are.  

Work is a great way to do this as it brings us out into relationship with the world and other people. And then there’s earning money – what a great thing that is! You can buy your own things, shape your own future and save to build independence like a car or house deposit.

Perhaps the most inspiring thing I see emerge as the young people I work with get a job, is that the fact that they ‘walk a little taller’. It is as though they feel more valued and valuable through working – and to me this comes from contributing (we are born to work!), but also from discovering things about yourself as you interact with the world through work. When challenges arise, observing how you respond to them. When you learn a new skill, appreciating that and also encouraging yourself if you are having a tough day. 

Being in life through work is great as you learn and grow, but also the world gets you and the essence that you bring. So everybody benefits.

By Sarah Davis, Youth Workshop Facilitator, Job Services
​Photography by Dean Whitling

7 Comments

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