Have a question about personal, physical, or financial wellness? We do too! Here we have compiled some resources available to residents that we hope can help you on your way to wellness in residency.
Need help now?
Crisis Hotline and local resources: 1.833.456.4566, https://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/
School Resources
Each school has resident wellness resources available. To find what is available at your program check out below:
In addition to resources offered through your school or program, you can also check out your provincial physicians association, provincial resident associations (see professional and resident associations section at the end of this document for links), RDOCs (https://residentdoctors.ca/areas-of-focus/wellness/), or the CMPA (https://www.cmpa-acpm.ca/en/advice-publications/physician-wellness).
Physical Wellness
Nutrition
No time to cook? We’ve all been there with endless hospital cafeteria meals and late night fast food runs. Here are some alternatives that you might consider the next time you’re running low on time or energy. Some of the options could include grocery delivery and meal subscriptions. They can come through in a pinch though still require you to do the preparation of the meal itself. Another alternative in many cities are seasonal produce boxes, often they are weekly subscriptions that you can pick up (some even offer delivery) which can supply a variety of local fresh produce. This can also be a great way to add some variety to your diet.
Exercise
Gym? Yoga? Fitness classes? Biking? Hiking? Climbing? Skiing? Team sports? Whatever it is that makes you feel good, keep doing it! Don’t get discouraged that some days/weeks/months you will be too tired to make it to the gym or your call schedule won’t match up with your class time. Do your best to make the time when you can but don’t be too hard on yourself either. Getting outside can also be a great way to get out of a rut – even for a 10-15 min walk. There are a variety of fitness apps that can help to keep you motivated and to fit workouts into your busy schedules. One of the best pieces of advice we received was to sign up for the team/activity that you enjoy, even if you know you can’t make it to every game/practice/event. You can still enjoy it for the times when you can make it!
* As a CAGS member you’re eligible for a discounted GoodLife Fitness membership, email cags@cags-accg.ca for more info!
Financial Wellness
The state of our finances also contributes to our sense of well-being. In a time of new commitments and responsibilities, don’t hesitate to seek out support and guidance when it comes to managing your income and expenses. Questions about tackling your medical school debt load? Which disability insurance plan is right for you? How to save for a rainy day? Here are some resources we’ve found to be helpful:
- Disability Insurance options for Canadian Medical Residents Youtube video
- Disability Insurance Simplified by Dr. Stephanie Zhou MD, MSc, University of Toronto
- Physician Financial Independence (Canada) Private Facebook group
- Run by a physician couple aiming to help medical professionals learn how to save, invest, and pay off debt https://www.facebook.com/groups/303157906773998/
- Financial Management: Intro to Personal Finance: Residents & Medical Students by Drs. Jane and Paul Healey, University of Toronto
As CAGS members you also have access to bespoke insurance solutions from TD Insurance and finance management tools from MD Financial Management, visit the CAGS Member Portal for details.
Some schools also provide tailored financial services to their residents so we encourage you to check them out below!
Moving to a new city?
Did the Match take you to a new city? It did for a lot of us across the country! Starting residency can be a big adjustment in more ways than one and adding a move to the mix can add to the nerves regardless of how old you are, if you’ve done it before, if you are making the move alone or with your family. Here are some quick tips that can make this adjustment a little bit easier:
- Get to know your new city – be a tourist for a day, drive or walk around without a set plan and get more familiar with your new home. Scout out your new favourite coffee shop, your go to take-out restaurant for those late nights on call, and get into a routine with a grocery store, pharmacy, hairdresser, etc… the small things can add up to make the adjustment easier.
- Reach out to other residents – whether it’s other residents in your program or other PGY1s that you are meeting, chances are many of them have been in the same position as you. Go out to coffee, go for a walk, order some take out together when on call, really whatever it is that can help you make new connections.
- Don’t give up on your hobbies – Residency can get very busy and can be exhausting but try to keep doing the things you enjoy outside of medicine. These can also be a great way to meet new people. Join a local Facebook group to find other like-minded people in your area.