JongVUmc, an organisation of young healthcare professionals working at the VUmc hospital in Zuidas Amsterdam, came back to The Green Living Lab this week to attend a special lecture on how to prevent burnout, by Cuna Knegt from Arts in Balans. They heard how stress management is key for their health and for sustainable careers as healthcare professionals.
Sadly, the number of young people in The Netherlands suffering from burnout is steadily increasing. Three in four students in The Netherlands are emotionally exhausted and one in three has an increased risk of a burn-out. One in seven students suffer from severe anxiety and depression complaints.
Something must be done and done now, in order to prevent this health crisis from spiralling further. Thankfully government and leading educational organisations including the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VUAmsterdam) are coming together to take action and to focus on increasing student welfare and health, including increasing the awareness of burnout, its prevention, and assistance in dealing with its effects.
JongVUMc heard how preventing burnout is of paramount importance, as burnout can cause serious health issues. Overcoming the effects of burnout can be a timely (and costly) process for everyone.
Students, don’t wait to burnout as it can take a long time to heal again. Take care of yourselves, and don’t wait to burnout only to have a doctor tell you to spend time in nature to feel better. This is the advice that is currently given to sufferers of burnout. Make sure you get outside into nature at least 20 minutes every day, or as often as you can. Nature’s restorative powers for stress relief are unsurpassable, and they are free!
The Green Living Lab has been designed in harmony with our beautiful natural surroundings on the VU campus, so that students and guests can destress and feel great while they study, work, learn or socialise.
Having more nature integrated into our urban landscapes is part of the solution to help young people, and the wider public, to destress. Nature is a healing influence in our city, and we need it close and within sight, for a healthy and vital city.
Come visit The Green Living Lab to stop a while in nature, to hunt for strawberries, to observe our blossoming education garden, to relax in our willow circle, or to hold your work meetings, trainings or private events. The energising power of spending time in this special natural paradise will help you leave your stress behind.
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