January 6, 2021 | 1 min read

5 Wellness Tips for 2021

By John Poehler

To mitigate burnout, prioritize sleep and gratitude.

September 8, 2020 | 1 min read

10 Ways to Cultivate Well-being During The Pandemic

By Rachel Salas, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

It's important to make an effort to improve your sense of well-being to help prevent burnout, especially during the strain of the pandemic.

July 30, 2024 | 3 min read

Unplug to recharge 

By Jennifer Katzenstein, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When I engaged in a personal digital detox, I noticed my ability to focus on patients improved. Two ideas to try are setting screen-time limits and establishing tech-free zones. 

June 30, 2021 | 2 min read

Promoting Wellness Through Intergenerational Connections

By Susan Lehmann, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Bridging the generations can enhance emotional well-being for young and old. Encourage patients to reach out to older family members and neighbors!

March 24, 2020 | 1 min read

Exercising for Wellness During the Pandemic

By Erica Leonard, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

With the drastic changes to our lives due to COVID-19, we can still stay active. Exercise during this challenging time can help improve everyone's emotional well-being and physical health.

July 26, 2023 | 3 min read

Small Change = Big Impact

By Jennifer Katzenstein, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Ideally, healthcare professionals model healthy habits. In doing so, they can inspire others and influence the health of communities.

May 1, 2023 | 2 min read

Choose Your Own Adventure

By Laura Hanyok, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When choosing and leading well-being initiatives, consider what would most meaningfully help you and your colleagues thrive. 

October 18, 2022 | 7 min read

A New Paradigm For Growth 

By David Kopacz, MD, University of Washington, Lucinda Houghton, PhD

As with other traumas, burnout, viewed as an opportunity for personal and professional development, offers a way to expand ourselves as wholehearted healers.

February 26, 2020 | 2 min read

How to Process Emotions as a Team

By Peter Heikkinen, MDiv, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Excellent clinical teams support each other by reflecting on patient encounters and sharing their emotions.

May 15, 2024 | 2 min read

Removing barriers to physician mental health

By Laura Hanyok, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Taking care of yourself by getting professional help when needed is essential to giving excellent patient care. You can also encourage coworkers to do the same. 

November 25, 2024 | 2 min read

Minimizing the risks of teen social media use

By Sarah Radtke, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Prioritize open dialogue with patients about social media use, focusing on its impact on mental and emotional well-being. 

April 9, 2024 | 1 min read

Wagging tails and healing hearts 

By Gretchen Miller, Managing Editor, Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

If you or your patients are thinking about getting a pet, full encouragement; life is better with animals around. Pets generally improve mental well-being by offering unconditional love, reducing stress, and providing a sense of purpose. 

October 3, 2022 | 4 min read

Setting Boundaries in Medicine

By Laura Hanyok, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Key to mitigating burnout is managing expectations of yourself and others, while still fulfilling our duties to patients. 

September 19, 2023 | 3 min read

After Hours

By Margaret Chisolm, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

To take care of themselves, their mentees, and their patients, academic clinicians should stop working routinely nights, weekends, and during vacations. 

November 29, 2023 | 2 min read

Staying grounded in these times 

By Gretchen Miller, Managing Editor, Neda Gould, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

The news can feel overwhelming. To maintain a sense of well-being while staying informed, limit media consumption and find a mindfulness practice that works for you. 

January 9, 2020 | 3 min read

Top Tips to Support Yourself While Pregnant and Working in Healthcare

By Laura Hanyok, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

You yourself or clinician colleagues will undoubtedly take parental leave at some point. Clinically excellent clinicians and practices use this as an opportunity to enhance continuity and ensure high quality care.

October 25, 2021 | 1 min read

Helping Patients Practice Healthy Habits

By Sajida Chaudry, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Imagining a healthier lifestyle is the first step toward wellness. You can then help patients to make small changes to their daily routine.

March 26, 2020 | 2 min read

6 ways to stay calm in these uncertain times

By Neda Gould, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

It's normal to feel anxious during uncertain times. However, there are tools we can practice so that our anxieties don't overwhelm us. Remind yourself to come back to the present using a phrase such as "This moment is the only reality" or "One moment at a time."

April 4, 2019 | 3 min read

Top 10 Tips for Talking With Your Patients About Food

By Roxanne Sukol, MD, Cleveland Clinic

You are what you eat! Making the time to talk to your patients about food and nutrition can help them achieve lasting health.

September 21, 2022 | 1 min read

Finding Passion, Purpose, and Meaning

By Carisa Parrish, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When experiencing burnout on the job, enjoying activities outside of work may lead to greater happiness and life satisfaction, until your passion for work returns. 

July 17, 2019 | <1 min read

Dr. Laura Hanyok: A CLOSLER Look

By Gretchen Miller, Managing Editor

The care of your patients will suffer if you don't prioritize your own well-being.

March 26, 2025 | 1 min read

Calm minds in uncertain times 

By Neda Gould, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

The polarization of politics in 2025 is causing many to feel anxious. Healthcare professionals can prioritize patient and personal mental well-being by promoting and practicing mindful information consumption.  

October 31, 2024 | 3 min read

The human cost of toxic work culture 

By Laura Hanyok, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Healthcare professionals often experience unrealistic work expectations. If this becomes too much, clinicians can seek support, set boundaries, and even consider making a change. 

February 7, 2024 | 2 min read

Vacations: a “how-to” guide 

By Laura Hanyok, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Vacations have been shown to reduce burnout, but sometimes it can feel hard to take time off. Blocking vacation time at the start of the year and getting coverage in place early may help. 

November 22, 2022 | 3 min read

Living Your Best Life

By Margaret Chisolm, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

By understanding what a good life looks like for each patient, clinicians can move beyond merely treating diseases to helping people flourish. 

July 22, 2020 | 4 min read

Virtue Ethics

By Awais Aftab, MD, Case Western Reserve University

Virtue ethics emphasizes the importance of self-knowledge and can help us to understand our patients in the context of the totality of their whole lives.

May 19, 2022 | 2 min read

Recognizing Relapse

By Susan Lehmann, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

The earlier that the return of psychiatric symptoms is detected, the more quickly a patient’s mental well-being can be restored. 

May 7, 2025 | 1 min read

Little things   

Kind gestures, like routinely saying hello to all members of the healthcare team, can foster a sense of belonging that enhances collective well-being and promotes collaboration in caring for patients. 

March 12, 2019 | 2 min read

Physician Burnout: The Pressure Continues to Grow

By Colin West, MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic

Support for physician mental health must be made more widely available. We must remove the stigma associated with accessing this support.

November 26, 2019 | 7 min read

October Art Museum Challenge

By Flora Smyth Zahra, MA Clin Ed, DRestDent RCS, FHEA, Kings College London, Margaret Chisolm, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Students appreciate the opportunity to engage with one another in the sanctuary of an art museum; the setting itself fosters well-being.

April 15, 2021 | 3 min read

To Err is Human

By Linda Lee, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Being honest with patients about errors can help ease their pain and preserve the patient-clini​cian relationship.

January 4, 2023 | 2 min read

Intergenerational Connections

By Susan Lehmann, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

We can benefit from relationships with those of different ages. Encourage patients to consider joining a community group with people from across generations. 

March 24, 2022 | 3 min read

Life-Work Balance

By Deirdre Johnston, MBBCh, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

To mitigate burnout, remember the things that used to fascinate and inspire you before you became a clinician.   

October 26, 2021 | 3 min read

What is The Scope of a Clinician’s Work?

By Margaret Chisolm, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

We must help our patients achieve a state where body, mind, and spirit are working as a whole. We can help them do more than survive. Let’s help them thrive!

October 1, 2024 | 2 min read

Supporting parents before they break 

By Mackenzie Sommerhalder, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Many patients experience distress because of their role as parents and caregivers. It is a pediatrics “best practice” to screen parents and offer resources for mental health support.  

August 23, 2023 | 1 min read

Navigating the wait (archives, 2023)

By Jennifer Katzenstein, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Accessing timely mental healthcare can be challenging. While waiting to see a mental health professional, lean on support networks and seek emergency care if needed. 

December 8, 2021 | 2 min read

Hitting Home Runs in Healthcare

By Colin West, MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic

Clinicians often struggle with errors and imposter syndrome. Just like in sports, coaching helps clinical performance and promotes well-being.

March 12, 2025 | 3 min read

5 tips to move forward after a challenging patient encounter 

After a challenging patient encounter, prioritize mindful breathing and reflective reframing. This may help you give your best care to the next patient. 

May 2, 2019 | 4 min read

Grieving Unexpected Patient Outcomes

By Stacia Dearmin, MD, Akron Children\'s Hospital

Acknowledging and processing grief can bring healing to the clinician.

April 2, 2020 | 4 min read

Staying Connected Inside and Out During the Pandemic

By David Kopacz, MD, University of Washington

Finding creative ways to connect to ourselves and to others is more important than ever in these days of social distancing.

September 29, 2021 | 2 min read

Finding Your Way to Compassion Satisfaction

By Wilson Hurley, LCSW

Practicing strategies that renew compassion will allow you to care for patients more effectively.

December 22, 2021 | 3 min read

Coping with grief during the holidays

By Ankita Sagar, MD, Brooklyn, New York

Having experienced my cousin’s death before Christmas reminds me that December isn’t a joyous time for everyone. I encourage those struggling to connect with loved ones and limit substance use. 

January 3, 2023 | 3 min read

Having fun can change your life

By Mike Rucker, PhD, Active Wellness

Lack of time and minimal control of your schedule can be significant sources of burnout. Discover simple ways to reclaim your time and integrate pleasurable experiences.

January 24, 2019 | 4 min read

Cultivating Caring

By David Kopacz, MD, University of Washington

Compassion begins with caring for ourselves and working to grow as full human beings. It is not just the lives of our patients that depend on us learning this component of caring, the quality of our own lives depend upon learning this as well.

April 12, 2018 | 3 min read

Creating a Safe Space For Teen Well Visits

By Barry Solomon, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Providing excellent care for adolescents includes creating a safe space for confidential discussions. The clinically excellent pediatrician is able to help support the teen to share sensitive concerns with parents and caregivers.

October 15, 2019 | 5 min read

Simplicity, egalitarianism, and hygge

By Aidan Crowley, Medical Student, University of Pennsylvania

Danish clinicians appear to be clinically excellent. The key may be finding your hygge.