Episode 5: Managing Your Energy — Diana Dill, EdD

After Marie describes her experience with savoring the moment while drinking water — a follow-up activity from the meeting with Dr. Gazelle — Dr. Schwab introduces her to Diana Dill, EdD, who coaches physicians to prevent burnout from feeling stressed and overwhelmed due to unsustainable organizational changes. She points out that people have different stressors and everyone has to assess if they have enough energy to sustain through the day. In the stress management world, energy arousal is measured on a scale of zero to 100; and peak performance can be achieved for two to four hours at a stretch in the mid arousal levels of 40–60. Above 60, one begins to feel frazzled. And at yet higher levels, the body allows only automatic activities, e.g. fight or flight, required for addressing emergency situations. One can, however, modulate the level of arousal energy and bring it in the mid-range periodically with activities such as deep breathing, savoring a moment, etc. that provide a break from sustained high-energy activities. Diana advises Marie to monitor and map out her arousal levels during the course of a day and manage activities both personal and professional using such techniques, enabling herself to think and change the course of action, if and when needed.