The Power of the Pause: Creating Engagement and Presence
If you do surgery or procedures, you’re probably familiar with the idea of taking a timeout. This is a mandated hard stop in the operating room or procedure lab. It’s a moment for everyone involved to verify that they are on the same page and that all necessary preparations have been made.
What if you took the concept of taking a pause out of the OR and into the other demanding parts of your day? It makes sense that taking a brief pause between meetings, procedures, or complex patient care might be helpful. But my guess is that very few of us actually do this.
New research from Microsoft's Human Factors Lab supports the idea that taking a personal pause can not only help you to reset but may even improve your engagement with your next patient or procedure.
Since this was Microsoft, the study looked at the way people engaged in meetings. The 14 subjects were tasked with wearing an EEG while participating in video meetings. Each meeting lasted 30 minutes.
On one day, they took part in four back-to-back meetings, without a break. On the other, each meeting was followed by a 10-minute pause. Instead of simply checking their phones, the participants meditated with the Headspace app.
The results were pretty interesting. Analysis of brain waves showed that taking a pause for a brief meditation created greater engagement during the following meeting.
Conversely, with no pause, there was EEG evidence of greater stress during the next meeting.
Productivity is often measured by the amount of time spent working. But this study and others suggest that engagement is a more important (and healthier) metric.
Bringing these ideas into healthcare can be challenging when there is no end to the pressures of the inbox and adding one more procedure or working in one more patient (with fewer members of the support staff) is the norm.
How can you begin to practice taking a pause? It’s not always practical to take a 10-minute break for meditation in the middle of a busy day. But even a few mindful moments can help. Here are a few practical tips that can help you to create a little breathing space for yourself and to be more present for your patients:
Breathe Mindfully:
Take a few deep, intentional breaths before going in to see a difficult or complex patient. Focus on the sensation of the breath entering and leaving your body. This simple act can help anchor your awareness to the present moment.
Body Scan:
Conduct a quick body scan to release tension. Start from the top of your head and gradually move down to your toes, paying attention to any areas of tightness or discomfort. Allow these areas to relax, even if it’s just a little.
Mindful Observation:
Take a moment to observe your surroundings without judgment or reactivity. Notice the colors, textures, and sounds in your environment. This brief shift in attention can provide a mental break and promote a sense of calm.
Taking mindful pauses between patients is not just a momentary break from a hectic schedule. It's an investment in your well-being and a way to engage more deeply with your patients. It can be a quick way to reboot your energy. By incorporating mindfulness into your routine, you can cultivate a sense of balance, focus, and empathy that positively impacts both you and those who depend on you.
It's time that healthcare leaders begin to learn the lessons that Microsoft and other leading companies already know. By supporting and empowering physicians and the healthcare team, healthcare systems will not only improve engagement and work satisfaction but will likely improve patient outcomes and physician and staff retention.
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