With an aging population and many physicians retiring every year, the physician shortage is affecting access to quality healthcare. But it’s also causing many of the physicians still in practice to experience burnout at high rates.
The good news is that you can avoid burnout by establishing a better work-life balance.
So how exactly do physicians juggle their personal life and their professional duties?
Here are some tips to balance your time so you can fulfill your professional responsibilities and enjoy your personal life at the same time.
Set Realistic Expectations
When you think about the work-life balance you want, be realistic. Depending on your specialty and where you are in your career, working just 20 hours per week or having every night, weekend, and holiday off just might not be possible.
Consider the obligations, schedule, and duties you agreed to in your employment contract, and then schedule and designate downtime around that. Or, look for a new position that will afford you the amount of time off you need.
Find the Right Employer
Your workplace environment will have a direct impact on your schedule and how much personal time you will (or will not) have.
For example, you may have a more hectic, variable schedule if you choose to work in a hospital that requires 24/7 staffing. Choosing to work in a private practice or a clinic that’s only open certain hours on certain days of the week can afford you a lot more flexibility and more time off.
In addition to the workplace itself, do your research on employers when searching for a new position. Keep in mind that the interview process isn’t just a chance for them to get to know you. It’s also your chance to learn about them.
Set Boundaries for Yourself
Set an invisible boundary between your personal life and professional life. That way, you can focus only on work when you’re at work and focus only on your personal life when you’re not on the job.
You can also set boundaries within the workplace, which can help you be more productive at work and free up more time for yourself.
One way to do so is to learn how to say “no.” If your employer asks you to pick up an extra shift or take on duties that aren’t your responsibility, saying yes will instantly cut into your personal time. While there will undoubtedly be moments when you have to say yes to taking on extra work, there will also be many times when “no” is an equally appropriate response.
Take Measures to Reduce Stress
Stress can trigger anxiety, and because anxiety drains you of energy, it also eats up precious time.
One of the best ways to create a work-life balance is to reduce the stressors in your life. If they’re work-related stressors, you might be able to alleviate them just by establishing the boundaries we discussed above. If your family dynamic is causing stress, consider seeking the advice of a therapist and trying to improve your personal relationships.
Despite earning high salaries, physicians often feel financial pressure. If you have financial stressors, hire a financial planner, an investment strategist, and/or a tax advisor to help you handle your finances. This site offers a variety of resources where you can find more information on financial planning for physicians.
Schedule Downtime
Being efficient and diligent at work is easy to do, in part because you’re scheduled to do so. Take the same approach to your downtime and create a schedule for that as well.
Schedule days off and take vacations. On these days, don’t think about work and, whenever possible, don’t take calls or respond to work-related emails. Enjoy the time off and make the most of it.
You can also schedule daily activities and set aside certain hours of each day to:
- Exercise
- Enjoy dinner with family or friends
- Read, relax, or pursue a hobby
Consider scheduling weekly activities as well. For example, make every Thursday date night with your spouse or significant other, set aside an hour each Saturday to get coffee with a friend, or designate Sunday as family day where you do something fun with your children.
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In Conclusion
The key to juggling your personal life and your professional responsibilities is to make enjoying downtime as much a priority as working. This isn’t always easy to do, especially for physicians that are tasked with life-saving duties that simply can’t be put on the backburner. But it can be done.
Your mental, physical, and emotional health are just as important as your career and your financial strength. If you don’t already have a comfortable work-life balance, making small changes now can be the difference between living a happy, healthy, and successful life or experiencing serious burnout early in your career.
