A doctor’s prescription for joy
As a doctor who is there for the most wonderful day in many people’s lives – the arrival of a new family member – Steve Robson knows what happiness looks like. But he’s also aware it’s something that must be worked on.
Australia has long been a place where happiness abounds, but this year we dropped out of the top 10 happy places to live. Surveys found that people in other countries – particularly in Scandinavia – seemed to be more happy than Australians at the moment.
We shouldn’t be surprised by a change like this. People make up countries, and all of us find ourselves feeling more glum at times. Why should it be any different for the country as a whole? Being the happiest person in the room is rarely a state we find ourselves in all of the time.
I have been a practising doctor for almost 40 years and it is very clear to me that being happy is a good thing for my patients. It’s also important for me – and something I struggle with despite knowing just how vital it is for my own health.
Like everyone else, life and work get on top of me and I feel myself dragged to places far away from blissful joy. Over the decades devoted to delivering babies I’ve found myself exhausted and sad. Adverse outcomes and complications affect me deeply.
While having a baby can be the most joyous experience a woman and her family can have, things don’t always go to plan. It is an incredible privilege to be associated with the most wonderful day in people’s lives – when a new family member arrives – but if things go wrong it can devastate all involved.
People expect their doctors and, indeed, everyone involved in health to be at their best. To provide the best care, make the best decisions, and provide the best advice. Yet anyone involved in healthcare can succumb to sadness. I have seen this in everyone I work with – other doctors, nurses, paramedics, and indeed anyone who provides care for a living.
At a time when our healthcare system is stretched to its limits, working as a doctor who is unhappy can be a recipe for problems. It is important professionally to be at the top of my game just as much for my patients’ sake as it is for me personally. For healthcare workers like me, being happy is good medicine for my patients too.
Happiness isn’t just nice – it’s important for your health. Being happy is associated with lower blood pressure and less risk of cardiovascular disease. It motivates people to exercise, maintain a more nutritious diet, and keep their weight in the healthy range. Happy people sleep better and have more energy.
A sense of happiness helps us to find a general sense of wellbeing and of purpose in our lives. From this flows optimism and a positive outlook, helping us to make positive changes in our lives and to work toward our goals. When we’re happy we’re better able to solve life’s problems and seem to have more time for helping others.
Different things make different people both happy and sad, but I want to share with you my own strategies for getting out of a slump and finding happiness again. I have definitely found myself in deep troughs of unhappiness over the years and finding a way out has to be a priority for me.
The first thing that I can’t stress enough is the difference between depression and unhappiness. Depression is a common and important medical condition that needs expert care. When you find yourself persistently unhappy and the usual strategies to lift your mood don’t work – see your doctor.
Assuming that you have seen your doctor and aren’t affected by depression, I’d like to share the strategies that I use to shake off sadness and try to find happiness again. Perhaps you will find something similar that might work in your own life.
The first is to connect with friends and family again. Often when we’re sad we go into a shell. We don’t feel like catching up or, sometimes, even returning messages. Making a positive effort to reach out to people is often the first step in rebuilding happiness. A burden shared can be a burden halved.
The next is to try to be kind. When we’re sad it can be easy to stay quiet, to keep to ourselves and not acknowledge the world around us. Making an effort to thank people, to be kind to them, and to help others can be a powerful tonic. A grateful smile or word of thanks from someone you don’t know can lift the spirits. That is a true win-win for all of us.
Something I find immensely helpful is being outside. The further outside the better. There is something deeply moving to stand before the grandeur of nature and see our lives and our problems in perspective.
This effect is well recognised and has been called “the sublime”. When we stand before tall mountains, or ocean waves, or expansive rolling landscapes it can remind us that many of the things that trouble us are small. I’m lucky living near Australia’s Snowy Mountains – walking in the area is a powerful way of rebooting my mood.
Not everyone has the privilege I do but there is evidence to show that getting away from concrete and buildings and seeing greenery – trees, botanic gardens, farmland on the outskirts of town – have a strong effect to lift our mood.
Sometimes the routines that govern our lives can feel like shackles, binding us to unhappiness. We can’t necessarily change the obligations of our lives but we certainly can break up routines and do things differently. This is an especially powerful way for me as a person with lots on my plate. Doing things differently, or in a different order, or even doing the same things in a different place, can raise our mood.
I often find myself having to respond to long strings of emails. Doing this at a cafe, or at a picnic table in a nearby park with a coffee in hand, rather than at the work desk, can have an amazing effect.
There are lots of other strategies I use to seek happiness when I need to. Try to minimise time spent with other unhappy people – if only for a while. Doing something community-spirited, even if it is taking old clothes to a charity to help others, can help us feel positive.
Exercise – whether it is a gym workout, a Park Run, or even just a long walk – benefits not only our moods but also our general health. It also helps us sleep, and sleep is critical to our happiness.
I find there are few things less conducive to sleep than screen time before bed or, worse, once we’re under the covers. Ditch the device and declutter your mind when you’re getting ready to sleep.
Happiness is so important in our lives, and we all recognise that our mood can change. Like many of you, sadness slumps can affect your life and your work. Be kind to yourself – and those around you – and try some “life hacks” that can turn things around. And if they don’t work, be sure to see your doctor like I do.
Steve Robson is professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the Australian National University and former president of the Australian Medical Association. He is a board member of the National Health and Medical Research Council.
This column is published for information purposes only. It is not intended to be used as medical advice and should not be relied on as a substitute for independent professional advice about your personal health or a medical condition from your doctor or other qualified health professional.
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