Feeling burned out, Doctor? Go north and get on the river

Physician burnout is reported as a growing problem. The increasing complexity of medicine, mounting paperwork, electronic medical records, increasing expectations on the part of patients, and Covid-19 are likely all contributing factors. Physicians are often also their own worst enemies as they demand impossible standards of perfection from themselves. The only long-term solution to this problem—which hurts both physicians and their patients—is probably a major change in the way physicians practise and in their attitude towards the demands that are put on them. As in weight-loss, durable long-term solutions are better than a short-term “fad” diet. But sometimes an abrupt reboot can be helpful, especially if it includes factors known to have a positive benefit. During my 40 years as a neurologist and my four years in general practice before that, I have often turned to nature for regeneration and reinvigoration. For many years I have done one-week backpacking trips in the Grand Canyon and the Canadian Rockies, sometimes several times a year. There is nothing like surviving for a week in the natural world with nothing but what you can carry on your back to put life in perspective. Read: Video—4 ways to take time off as a physician Backpacking may not be everyone’s cup of tea. It requires a lot of training and planning, is very strenuous, and at times not all that comfortable. Fortunately, there are other, although more expensive, alternatives that will get you “away from it all” and into the wilderness. As the rat said in Wind in the Willows to the mole: “Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing–absolutely nothing–half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” Several commercial groups will take you north to raft some of Canada’s magnificent wilderness rivers. These will take you and a small group of others (most if not all of them non-physicians) away from all the stresses of civilization, and indeed away from almost everything you are familiar with. Not only will you be on the water and about as close to nature as one can get, once the float plane has dropped you off, you will not hear an internal combustion engine for many days. No cars, no roads, no lawn mowers. And perhaps best of all, the river guides who obviously love their work, will keep you safe and mostly comfortable. Whether you raft or canoe will depend on your preference, skill level, and the river you chose, but either way it will be a great experience. If you wish to make it a family affair, that is possible too. My wife has accompanied me on all four of my magnificent northern rafting trips and enjoyed them all. On the last one, we took along two teenaged grandchildren and they enjoyed it so much they have (at least temporarily), changed their career plans from becoming a detective to a river guide. Still not sure this is for you? Have a look at Rafting the Great Northern Rivers: The Nahanni, Firth, and Tatshenshini, where I have described my experiences on three exciting river trips, to get a good idea of what to expect. Even if you don’t go rafting, you can experience these great rivers vicariously through my travels and learn some new things about Canada’s north. A northern river trip will also give you solitude. Aside from our own small group on the Tatshenshini, we saw no one for more than 10 days, except for a brief encounter with a park employee at a distance. We were alone with the forests, the mountains, the glaciers, and most of all, the river. On the Firth, our trip ended on the shores of the Arctic Ocean, where we spent time with the Arctic Terns who had travelled all the way from Antarctica to raise their young in Canada’s northern tundra. On the Nahanni, we were awed by the towering canyons and enjoyed learning more about some of the interesting human history of this intriguing river. So, if you are feeling stressed and if the big city is getting you down, return to your evolutionary roots in nature. Nowhere is it bigger and more impressive than along the rivers of Canada’s north. Dr. Werner J. Becker, MD, is Professor Emeritus at the University of Calgary. Read: Cutting “technostress” to reduce burnout.

Feeling burned out, Doctor? Go north and get on the river

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