A guide to building resilience

What is resilience in medical practice?

Resilience is not about being tough or unaffected by stress. It is a set of skills and behaviours that help you navigate challenges in a sustainable way.

It involves understanding your own limits and recognising when you need a break. It also means knowing how to seek and accept support from colleagues and dedicated services.

Why resilience is important for GPs

Developing resilience is a professional skill, just like clinical diagnosis. It is essential for your career, your health, and your patients.

A resilient approach helps you to:

• prevent stress from becoming burnt out, supporting a long and fulfilling career
• protect your own mental and physical health from the pressures of the job
• remain empathetic and deliver high-quality, person-centred care to your patients

Building resilience is essential for a successful career in medicine.

Practical strategies for building resilience

Resilience is not something you either have or do not have. It is a skill that you can develop over time with conscious effort.

Look after your basic needs

The foundations of resilience are good physical and mental health:

• Prioritise getting enough sleep.
• Eat regular, nutritious meals, even on busy days.
• Get some form of physical activity into your routine.
• Take proper screen breaks and rest breaks during your working day.

These simple steps can significantly improve your ability to handle pressure.

Develop self-awareness and reflection

Understanding your own triggers is a key part of managing stress. Take a moment to notice the situations that you find difficult. Reflective practices, such as journaling, using mindfulness apps, or speaking openly with a trusted peer, can be powerful tools.

Build your support network

You do not have to face challenges alone. A strong support network is essential:

• Make time to connect with your peers, both inside and outside of work.
• Use formal support like the NHS Scotland GP Coaching Service or a mentor.
• Nurture your relationships with friends and family outside of medicine.

Connecting with others helps to provide perspective and reduce feelings of isolation.

Set boundaries to manage your workload

It is important to create a clear separation between your work and personal life:

• Learn to say no to taking on non-essential tasks when you are already busy.
• Try to finish on time where possible and avoid taking work home with you.
• Use your annual leave to properly disconnect and recharge.

These boundaries help to protect your personal time and prevent exhaustion.

Support for building your resilience

Building resilience is an ongoing process. Several organisations offer dedicated support:

• National Wellbeing Hub—Find out more about understanding resilience.
• NHS Education for Scotland (NES)—Sign up for the free NHS Scotland GP Coaching Service.
• RCGP—Discover a wide range of wellbeing resources, toolkits, and peer support networks.
• BMA Wellbeing—Access confidential 24/7 counselling and stress management resources.
• Doctors in Distress—Discover facilitated peer support groups focused on doctor wellbeing.

Enhance your wellbeing with tools and techniques from Resilient Practice.