To all my oncology colleagues – Self-care should be your top healthcare priority: Sami Mansfield

“In a profession built around caring for others, healthcare professionals often are challenged to put their health anywhere near the top priority list.

Burnout, anxiety, depression, and even PTSD are reaching crisis levels across healthcare systems. The toll on our health is undeniable—and unsustainable. Healthcare providers face a unique mix of emotional exposure, high responsibility, long hours, and increasing administrative burdens. Burnout is more than stress; it’s a combination of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and the weight of moral injury—when you can’t provide the care you know your patients deserve.

According to The Lancet, nearly half of all healthcare workers experience symptoms of anxiety, depression, or insomnia—with clinicians at significantly higher risk for suicide than the general population. (Phiri, 2021)

The incidence of obesity, chronic disease, and autoimmune disease is continuing to climb; non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes, are the leading causes of death globally, accounting for 41 million deaths annually, is approximately 74% of all deaths worldwide. (WHO) Healthcare professionals are encountering these diseases at rates comparable to global trends. This shows that just knowing things doesn’t always give us the time or tools we need to take action.

The Health Status of Clinicians: What the Data Says

A systematic review of 158,775 nurses across 29 countries found that 31.2% were overweight and 16.3% were obese. (Sadali, 2023)

Healthier physicians are more likely to advise patients on lifestyle changes (Oberg, 2009). A recent study also showed that clinicians involved in lifestyle medicine programs reported greater vitality, less stress, lower emotional exhaustion, and improved overall health. (Fallows 2023)

The personal health habits of clinicians are not just individual concerns; they can influence the care patients receive and the recommendations we provide to both our patients and colleagues.

Burnout doesn’t just drain our energy; it also alters daily habits. When we’re mentally and emotionally depleted, making healthy choices becomes more difficult. Quick meals, poor sleep, lack of movement, and isolation often become the norm and an expected part of life in healthcare.

However, when we start to support our health—even in small ways—it can shift our entire behavior pattern.

Better well-being creates momentum that fuels motivation, drives goals and creates space for self-care. But addressing burnout isn’t just about feeling better ourselves —it’s about creating a system where healthier habits can take root and stick.

As cancer care professionals, our role is to bridge the gap between healthcare systems and individuals through our own healthy habits.

We often tell our patients that small, consistent changes can transform their health. But what if the same tools we recommend could become our own blueprint for healing?
“Be the change you wish to see.” — This quote isn’t just a philosophy—it’s a call to action for healthcare professionals.

Burnout doesn’t just affect how we feel—it affects what we do.

Chronic stress, emotional exhaustion, and overwhelm seep into our daily routines. We skip meals. We choose convenience over nourishment. We sit more, sleep less, and disconnect from others. Over time, burnout becomes a loop that reinforces unhealthy behaviors and chips away at our ability to thrive.

But within this challenge lies an opportunity.

By interrupting that pattern with intentional, lifestyle-driven habits—however small—we begin to feel the doses of lifestyle medicine. And when we model these changes, we spark something powerful: inspiration. Colleagues notice. Patients take it seriously. And in teams where shared purpose matters, even one person choosing differently can create a ripple effect.

When we lead by example, we give others permission to do the same. It’s easier to drive change in a community that understands the “why”—especially when that community includes peers working toward the same goals.

Make an intention to be a role model. Patients and colleagues are more likely to adopt healthy behaviors when they see their healthcare providers and trusted colleagues living with them and sharing both wins and challenges.

Clinicians who walk the talk feel more equipped—and empowered—to provide lifestyle guidance in actionable ways not simply touching base on general recommendations but truly be able to provide actions that our patients can utilize.

Burnout Disruptors: Real-Life Habit Shifts

Long hours, especially on top of current barriers such as within EMRs, staff shortages, and payer frustrations can lead to long hours of sedentary time. However, taking just a few minutes to walk, stretch, or engage in light exercise can help regulate stress hormones, improve focus, and reduce anxiety and can be the first real steps to self-care.

More than 60% of clinicians report ongoing stress, which often leads to emotional eating, disrupted sleep, and disconnection from healthy routines (Guo, 2023). Feeling stressed drives us to reach for quick and convenient foods, especially when our blood sugar is elevated; however, highly processed foods and skipped meals can drain both physical and mental energy. Choosing whole, fiber-rich, plant-predominant meals with adequate protein and fewer added sugars helps stabilize blood sugar, support mental clarity, and sustain energy throughout demanding days.

When we prioritize our own well-being, we set the tone for a healthier, more sustainable healthcare culture. And when that change happens within a community that shares the same goals, it sticks. Because healing starts with us—and it multiplies from there.

It’s Not Just You—It’s the System.
Burnout is not a personal failure. It’s a response to a system that expects too much from too few, for too long. But while systems change slowly, our habits can change today.

The American College of Lifestyle Medicine emphasizes that healthcare institutions play a vital role in supporting clinician well-being. They recommend creating environments that prioritize health by offering protected time for wellness, providing plant-forward meal options, fostering a culture that openly supports mental health, and encouraging leadership to model self-care practices. These shifts not only improve individual resilience but also help build a workplace culture where well-being is normalized and sustainable. (ACLM)

Reclaiming the Joy in Medicine

We got into this work to help others. But we can’t give from an empty cup. Lifestyle medicine is not a luxury—it’s a lifeline. It invites us to care for ourselves with the same evidence-based compassion we offer to patients.

Small, intentional shifts in how we eat, move, rest, and connect can help us reclaim joy, purpose, and longevity in the profession. Let lifestyle medicine be more than something we prescribe. Let it be the way we live.”

written by Sami Mansfield

Sami Mansfield is an exercise oncology and lifestyle medicine consultant with endless curiosity and persistence. As the founder of Cancer Wellness for Life, Sami has dedicated her career to empowering cancer survivors and clinicians through innovative, evidence-based programs that improve health outcomes while optimizing cost-efficiency.

Sami is a contributing author to groundbreaking guidelines, including the ASCO Guidelines on Exercise, Nutrition, and Weight Management, and has helped shape numerous state cancer control plans.

She is the current chair of the Cancer Member Interest Group for the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, where she drives forward initiatives emphasizing the connection between science and implementation. Her patient-facing programs like BUILD and My Lifestyle Shift have reached global audiences, transforming lives through the pillars of lifestyle medicine.