Why Caregivers Need a ‘Well-Being Day’

Caregivers spend their time caring for others. But they shouldn’t forget about themselves.

That’s why Cleveland Clinic grants each of its professional staff members a “Well-Being Day,” which can be taken for any well-being related purpose — from getting a physical to rejuvenating your mental health by hanging with your kids to going hiking with the dog or spending a day at the spa with friends.

In its first year, the program had 32 percent participation. In the first six months of 2018, 13.8 percent of staff have scheduled a Well-Being Day.

In an anonymous survey, we asked our staff how they utilized their 2017 well-being day. The responses included:

1. Exercise
2. Cooking
3. Spent time with kids/significant other
4. Healthcare visit
5. Medical procedure
6. Wedding planning
7. Time in nature hiking, exploring
8. Yoga/massage
9. Spiritual retreat
10. Mission work

“While a single day may not have the ability to change your entire situation, it does provide an opportunity to take a day for yourself and get some R&R,” says Susan Rehm, MD, Vice Chair of the Department of Infectious Disease and Executive Director of Physician Health.