Winter has always been a busy time for doctors – seasonal flu tends to ramp up while icy conditions cause more accidents. This year was exceptionally hectic, with medical staff working long hours to make up for both higher demand and issues with staffing. Being able to take a quick power nap was essential, but some doctors struggled to take their mind off their patients while finding a place to crash. That’s where I came in, contracted out to help doctors let go of other concerns so they could enjoy a short but deeply reinvigorating sleep.
Part of what I stressed is that they could learn to dress back up quickly. Knowing they could change clothes fast eased their minds about being called into an emergency, and stripping off their clothes would otherwise help them to separate work time from nap time. This is your time to be comfortable. You should be able to get as comfortable as you would like. And as you take off any unwanted clothes, you also take a load off. Strip off your clothes, and strip your mind free of cares until you put them back on. As I worked with the doctors on letting go, I could tell they needed more than sleep. They needed release. I invited the two that had seemed the most stressed – Drs. Hallett & Belden – in for a special joint session and was left surprised at how comfortable they felt stripping down with each other.