Don't Just Survive, Thrive: Finding Your Flow This Holiday Season

Is it just me, or does the end of the year sneak up completely unannounced? One minute, you're sipping iced coffee; the next, you're drinking a pumpkin spice latte while perusing holiday decorations at Target. While the “real world” is wrapping up the year, the year in academic medicine has really just gotten started. New medical students have found their rhythm, residents have settled into their roles, and it’s all feeling very “business as usual.”

This year, my goal has been to get myself into a flow state as often as possible - that experience where you’re fully immersed in something energizing and enjoyable, and time slips away. (For more of my thoughts on flow, click here.) It's been easier said than done. Especially when life started throwing curveballs.

My work life became complicated a few months ago, and my personal life took an unexpected and challenging turn. Both situations have had me gritting my teeth and sometimes asking, “Why me?” Both situations require total immersion. So, for the last three months of 2024, I will make a dedicated effort to ask myself how I can find flow when these aspects of life start going a bit sideways. They will require total immersion anyway, so I can zhuzh the thoughts I’m having about them to bring me some energy and joy. Less “Why me?” and more, “Who better than me?”

So, how can we all create flow in both worlds this time of year?

Four Steps to End the Year with a Bang (Not a Burnout)

1. Embrace the Flow: When things get hectic (and they will!), take a deep breath and ask yourself, "How can I find flow in this moment?" Can you break down a daunting task into smaller, more manageable steps? Can you find a quiet space to focus and minimize distractions?

2. Anticipate the Inevitable Holiday Medicine Slowdown: Instead of letting the holidays derail us, let's use them to our advantage. Picture this: you've already planned for minimal productivity in the last two weeks of December. How does that change your approach to teaching learners, patient care, and those endless meetings? By acknowledging the holiday slump now, we can strategically back-calculate our goals. This way, we can truly enjoy the break without the guilt of unfinished tasks (which, let's be honest, probably wouldn't have gotten done anyway!).

3. Plan for the Holidays (Like a Boss): Don't let the holidays sneak up on you. Block off those vacation days, delegate travel arrangements, and schedule your shopping sprees. Pretend the last two weeks of December are already here – what needs to be accomplished before then?

4. Prioritize Your Well-being: This is non-negotiable. Schedule those yoga classes, gym sessions, or daily walks. Book a long weekend getaway before the holiday madness descends. If you're usually the holiday host, consider taking a break this year. And if there are holiday traditions that drain your energy, find a graceful way to opt out now so there’s plenty of time for other plans to be made.

By planning ahead and prioritizing our well-being, we can end this year with more joy and less stress. Even a 60:40 ratio of joy to stress is a win in my book 🙂