Wellness Wednesday -May

Upcoming events:

If you have an event you want uplifted, please email me at bass-maya@cooperhealth.edu

Helpful Links

·                     New Link for Discounted daycare: Bright Horizons For Cooper Housestaff

·                     Residents’ guide to accessing Primary Care at Cooper: ​​​Wellness Resources for Trainees.pdf​​​

·                     Cooper GME Wellness Page: https://wellness.cooperhealth.org/gme-wellness/

·                     Cooper Wellness Page: Compassion & Resiliency Experience (C.A.R.E.) Program

·                     Cooper’s Community Resources: Cooper Unite

·                     Cali Courses for Professional Development: http://portal/Departments/CALI/CALI%20Catalog/Forms/AllItems.aspx

Wellness Tip: The “2-Minute Reset” Between Patients

In a high-volume academic medical center, your day is rarely under your control—but small, intentional resets are. One of the most evidence-informed and sustainable strategies for reducing burnout and improving performance is building micro-recovery moments into your day.

What is a 2-Minute Reset?

A brief, structured pause between clinical tasks (patients, consults, charting blocks) to deliberately reset your nervous system.

Why it works

  • Reduces cognitive overload and emotional carryover between patients
  • Improves attention, empathy, and clinical decision-making
  • Helps prevent end-of-day exhaustion from cumulative stress

How to do it :

Pick one transition point in your day (start small):

  • Between patients
  • After a difficult interaction
  • Before opening your inbox or notes

Then do one of the following for 2 minutes:

  1. Physiologic reset (fastest impact)
    • Inhale for 4 seconds → exhale for 6–8 seconds
    • Repeat for 6–10 breaths
    • (Long exhales activate parasympathetic response)
  2. Cognitive reset (clears mental clutter)
    • Ask yourself: “What do I need to let go of from the last patient?”
    • Then: “What matters most for the next one?”
  3. Physical reset (especially on inpatient or procedural services)
    • Stand up, roll shoulders, stretch neck/back
    • Take 10 steps away from your workstation if possible
  4. Connection reset (builds culture, not just resilience)
    • Quick check-in with a colleague:
      “That was tough—are you doing okay?”

Implementation (Make it Stick)

  • Anchor it to an existing habit: e.g., after you sign a note or sanitize your hands
  • Make it visible: write “RESET” on your rounding list or workstation
  • Normalize it: encourage co-residents, fellows, and attendings to do it together

Bottom line

Wellness in medicine is not found in large, occasional interventions—it is built through small, repeatable practices embedded in real workflows. A 2-minute reset won’t change your schedule, but it can meaningfully change how you move through it.