UPMC McKeesport Family Medicine - Candle Making 2024

1 - General understanding of the purpose of the program by participants?
Residents understood that Candle making was chosen as a relaxing activity where we as a group could slow down, socialize, unwind, and invest in our own wellness. This was a group activity that also allowed for each individual resident to choose from 100’s of scents and personalize an aromatherapy candle that appealed to them.

2. Why did I choose the specific wellness project/activity?
As a group this activity was chosen because there were several staff in our office that advised us, they had a blast making candles with their families. This activity allowed for group participation, socialization along with personalized creation of scents. It allowed residents to use their creative license and develop a totally individualized scent as well as a finished product they could take back to brighten and freshen up their homes.

3. During the project/program, what tangible tools or strategies were demonstrated or taught to address wellness and life balance?
I believe that our candle making experience allowed us all to recognize that taking time to slow down and prioritize doing something with the people you care about can be very rejuvenating. Other residents noted that it taught us that everyone has a different personality much like the creation of different candle scents and that everyone is beautiful and offers a different perspective about particular scenarios. This exercise also allowed us to chat about what wellness means to each of us and it was fascinating to find out that wellness and wellbeing looks different for everyone much like the differing candle scents.

4. What do you intend to do, upon returning to work, that you learned and practiced during the activity, that will improve your response to stressful situations?
Upon reflection during the event, all residents agreed that returning to work with an awareness of and emphasis placed on wellbeing as well as the idea of slowing down. We as a group recognized that this is often hard to do when you are having a hard day, but that it is important to have supportive co-workers who are there to remind you to take time for yourself.

5. What can POMA do to address wellness and life balance for your future? To address resident wellness and promote life balance, I believe that continuing to offer opportunities and invest in events such as this will allow residents to feel like governing boards such as POMA care and prioritize wellness.