- With Mayo Clinic oncologist
Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
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Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Edward Creagan, M.D.
"The magic of the electronic village is transforming health information. The mouse and keyboard have extended the stethoscope to the 500 million people now online." — Dr. Edward Creagan
The power of the medium inspires Dr. Edward Creagan as he searches for ways to share Mayo Clinic's vast resources with the general public.
Dr. Creagan, a Newark, N.J., native, is board certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hospice medicine and palliative care. He has been with Mayo Clinic since 1973 and in 1999 was president of the staff of Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Creagan, a professor of medical oncology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, was honored in 1995 with the John and Roma Rouse Professor of Humanism in Medicine Award and in 1992 with the Distinguished Mayo Clinician Award, Mayo's highest recognition. He has been recognized with the American Cancer Society Professorship of Clinical Oncology.
He describes his areas of special interest as "wellness as a bio-psycho-social-spiritual-financial model" and fitness, mind-body connection, aging and burnout.
Dr. Creagan has been an associate medical editor with Mayo Clinic's health information websites and has edited publications and CD-ROMs and reviewed articles.
"We the team of (the website) provide reliable, easy-to-understand health and wellness information so that each of us can have productive, meaningful lives," he says.
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Stress blog
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July 13, 2011
Exercise your right to say no
By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Sometimes life just doesn't work the way it's supposed to. Relationships unravel. Hard work isn't always rewarded, and recognition doesn't always come. This is just the way life is. So what can you do? Start by recognizing that you have choices.
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If the stress in your life is more than you can cope with, get help right away.
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Let me give you a specific example. I participated in a meeting with some wonderful colleagues about an important medical topic. We met over the lunch hour, which is never ideal, but it was the only time we could get together. We weren't able to resolve all of the issues, and a colleague suggested that we meet again early the next morning. Most members were agreeable to do so, but I wasn't since I work out each morning.
With some uneasiness, I explained that this time wouldn't work for me. Some of my colleagues reacted as if I were from another planet. Nevertheless, I felt comfortable with my decision, although there was a moment of uneasiness.
Sure it's hard to disappoint colleagues, but I made my choice and accepted the consequences. And you know the world didn't unravel simply because I didn't attend an early morning meeting.
So you see I don't just pontificate about the need to take care of yourself. I try to live it. What stories can you share of a time when you had to put yourself first?
7 comments posted
July 28, 2011 3:23 a.m.
Thanks for the great information! This really helps! I have started jogging recently, wanting to take this chance to rest and relax. But I guess I'm kind of overdo, as I often feel a sudden pull in my thigh muscles. Do you happen to know of any best back pain cream? I have heard of this pain rub cream called RubOnRelief. Do you happened to come across any rub on relief reviews? Looking forward to your reply! Thanks a lot!
- RubOnRelief
July 22, 2011 8:26 a.m.
I think sometimes it is just hard to say No because of the environment pressure.
- Ron
July 21, 2011 10:11 p.m.
The field of economics, now much in contention, has at least one concept we can all use and agree upon as individuals--that of 'opportunity cost.' It boils down to this: your time and other resources are finite, so trade-offs are unavoidable. If you decline one commitment, you are in effect saying 'yes' to another, even if it's needed down time. For example, declining another social commitment may mean accepting time alone to recharge your "batteries." So, to respond to Judy below, and recognizing that honesty is the best policy, it's fair to say that you have another commitment--even it that just means more exercise, time alone, reconnecting with someone important, etc. "Why thank you for the invitation, but I already have a commitment." Opportunity cost: there's no such thing as a free lunch, In summary and in general, you give up this in order to pursue that--but most of us are not accustomed to thinking in these terms.
- Alan
July 21, 2011 8:06 a.m.
It would be helpful to give examples of wording to use when saying "no". Thanks.
- Judy
July 20, 2011 9:19 a.m.
Feeling I had served my two years of volunteering after retiring, I decided to relax and enjoy life. Then I was asked to be council secretary. I declined but was talked into being assistant secretary as obligations would be fewer. The secretary resigned and I became busy again. Anxiety built, and I became uncomfortable. After completing two terms, I retired to my domicile, monitored phone messages and avoided all social activity. Slowly I returned to social life but learned to say "I'm sorry, I can't," to committments in order to keep my comfortable cool.
- roberta
July 19, 2011 5:36 p.m.
I was going to work an extra day, but found I had some personal problems that required my attention. Even though I felt a little guilty I called and said I couldn't come in.
- Maureen
July 14, 2011 12:59 p.m.
When my mom and my husband and I moved in together, I started urging my mom to exercise. She had always said, throughout her life, that she didn't have time to exercise, working and caring for others. It took quite a while, but she finally started going to the Y and doing the Arthritis Foundation pool exercise classes. Now, I love hearing her tell people that she's not available in the morning because she puts her exercise at the top of her priorities. She's a real success story. At 89, she's moved from barely able to walk (at first I took her to the pool in a wheelchair) to driving herself and walking into the pool on her own. I'm so grateful!
- Alma
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