Dr. Dianah T. Lake, also known as Dr. Dī, is an emergency medicine physician and fitness coach who founded Dr. Dī Fitness. This organization focuses on high-income earning women who struggle to balance their high-income earning careers with fitness and overall well-being.
Findings from the most recent national burnout survey series, co-authored by the American Medical Association (AMA), highlight the exacerbated impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on long-standing issues, particularly concerning the rate of physician burnout in the United States. By the close of 2021, approximately 63 percent of physicians disclosed experiencing symptoms of burnout, a notable increase from the 38 percent reported in 2020.
Reflecting upon her recent travel experience to Trinidad and Tobago for Carnival, Dr. Dī shares with rolling out the transformational power of travel for professionals, how to ensure a fulfilling travel experience and the impact of travel on your well-being.
Addressing burnout: Recognizing the impact of overwork
Workplace burnout is multifaceted and presents as overwork, lack of recognition and difficulty balancing professional and personal commitments. Dr. Dī underscores the toll that long hours and unpredictable schedules take on professionals, specifically those in the medical field.
“You cannot plan your life and assume everything will go smoothly,” she notes. “You’re [not] going to leave the clinic on time. You’re [not] going to be able to go to dinner with your husband or to meet your kid at the basketball game, ballet or dance recital.”
When individuals experience burnout, they frequently find themselves sacrificing important personal occasions and struggling to maintain a healthy equilibrium between their personal and professional lives.
Prioritizing self-care: The role of travel in professional wellness
In addressing the wellness needs of high-income professional women, Dr. Dī advocates for incorporating travel into self-care routines.
“In the Your Best Body Ever Fitness Transformation program that I run, we have two retreats a year,” she shares. She highlights the importance of planning and budgeting for travel experiences that bring joy and rejuvenation. Dr. Dī encourages her clients to create a self-care budget, allocating funds specifically for travel,
“You start putting money aside, and you start creating that self-care budget to allow you to be able to get away, recharge and rejuvenate,” she shares.
Strategic travel: Dr. Lake’s recent trip to Trinidad and Tobago Carnival
Dr. Dī’s recent trip to Trinidad Carnival is an illustrative example of strategic travel planning for wellness. By participating in this vibrant cultural event, Dr. Dī immersed herself in joyous festivities and prioritized physical activity and community engagement. Dr. Dī strategically balanced moments of excitement with rest periods, ensuring a fulfilling and rejuvenating experience.
“Travel is not a luxury; it’s a necessity for our well-being,” Dr. Dī aptly stated.
By recognizing the signs of burnout and prioritizing self-care through strategic travel planning, individuals can reclaim their sense of joy, fulfillment and balance.
The impact beyond vacation: Integrating travel into daily life
Beyond the confines of traditional vacations, Dr. Dī emphasizes the importance of integrating travel into daily life to foster ongoing well-being. She encourages her clients to seek out opportunities for weekend getaways or day trips, leveraging travel as a tool for stress relief and personal growth.
“You don’t have to go away for a week or two weeks. You can start with just a weekend and then build from there,” Dr. Dī suggested.
Particularly for high-income professional women facing the pressures of demanding careers, intentional travel can rejuvenate the spirit and nourish the soul, highlighting the transformative power of exploration and adventure in promoting wellness.
