Can Physicians Really Have It All? Work-life Balance in the Modern Era of Medicine

Whether or not physician work-life balance is possible, it is highly coveted. Younger generations of doctors (those 35 years old and younger) and an increasingly female workforce have spearheaded this movement towards balance. Women make up about half of all medical students and residents and many – along with an increasing number of their male colleagues – value raising a family and pursuing other life interests. While older generations accepted that the calling to become a physician would limit other areas of life, and the medical profession overall has a poor record of self-care, times are changing, and this newer generation is looking for a change.

3 Ways Physicians Can Decompress and Rejuvenate During Time Off

While there is not much that can be done to change the work day of a physician — how the provider copes with or responds to these stressful work conditions, can mean the difference between life and death. Maybe that is too extreme. However, what you do on your time off could determine whether you experience burnout or job satisfaction. Making the most of your days off can also contribute to the maintenance of mental stability and the avoidance of a nervous breakdown.

How to Turn CME Requirements into Vacation Fun

Mandatory CME easily reaches 50 hours per year for many physicians. Add in the maintenance of certification requirements for some specialties and the time commitment, and it can turn into a part-time job just keeping up. 

That said, why not make it fun? Most, if not all, CME could turn into a vacation experience if you chose wisely. 

5 Books to Read This Year

Life in the trenches of medicine can be taxing and having a ready escape for the mind is essential. A good book can wash away stress and recalibrate energy and attitude. Here are a few excellent reads to check out.

5 Self Care Tips to Save Your Healthcare Career and Your Sanity

You work hard. Day and night, evenings and weekends, holidays and celebrations. You work, giving your time and energy to take care of everybody else. But who takes care of you? Who takes care of the healthcare provider? You’re tired […]

How to Survive At Work When You Are Understaffed and Overworked

One out of five nurses will leave the nursing profession within the first year of becoming a nurse. 36 % of hospital nurses said their patient workload caused them to miss vital changes in a patient’s condition. You know what […]

Health Care Workers Benefit from Spending Time in Nature

Spending time in nature is an important aspect of self-care for healthcare workers. Nature enhances mental and physical well–being. It boosts creativity and brain function. Exposure to nature is especially helpful for healthcare workers due to the intensity of our jobs, physical demands, and the technical environments in which we work.

Why Healthcare Professionals Are Killing Themselves

Working in the trenches of medicine requires stamina and mental fortitude. Fueling the body and mind is critical for optimal performance and patient care. Unfortunately, many healthcare professionals are killing themselves by what they put into their mouths.

The Hands of Time Don’t Stop for Physicians Either

I would love to rewind the clock and work a bit less, skip a few more meetings, and grab an afternoon nap as often as possible. I’d like to think I would ignore the lure of a nice bonus check and take an extra vacation with the kids. Instead of moonlighting to get those student loans erased, I’d take a long, slow walk with my wife and just sit quietly watching the sunset.

The hands of time wait for no one. Choose to spend those moments wisely with contemplation and great care.

5 Reasons Being Fit Helps Your Career

As a medical professional, you know that being overweight or obese greatly affects your health. The CDC notes that approximately 1/3 of American adults are obese, and that type 2 Diabetes and heart disease are linked to being obese or […]