You did it. You made your way through college, medical school and residency. Now you’re a new doctor. You have SO much to be proud of, but it’s easy to get trapped in the busyness that is every doctor’s life. Because of that, it’s important to maintain a healthy work/life balance from the beginning of your career so you can avoid burnout. Consider these tips to make your work/life priorities a little more balanced and manageable so you and your patients can be better off. Take a moment to think about your accomplishments. You are probably your biggest critic. You are also probably always thinking about the next move – what you have to do tomorrow at work, what you can do to be a top doctor, what you can do to improve patient satisfaction, etc. For one moment, pause and think about how you’ve gotten here. You have accomplished so much! Give yourself a break and be proud of yourself. You deserve it. Unplug when you need to. Life is hectic as a young doctor. You have a lot going on, and most of it probably revolves around your technology. Don’t hesitate to turn off your phone, shut down your computer and just unplug for a certain period of time every day or every week. Spend time doing other things that make you happy, like hobbies, sports, exercising, reading, or just spending time with loved ones. Identify your priorities and base your schedule around them. At the beginning of your career, you have some control over your work/life schedule. Don’t let it get out of hand. Stay organized in the beginning by prioritizing your most important tasks, giving them the attention they deserve in your schedule, and knowing when to say no to less important tasks. You can’t do it all. You don’t have all the time in the world. But with an organized schedule, you can stay on track. Treat your patients like people – not numbers. You may be wondering, how is this a work/life balance tip? Because if you treat your patients like the people they are, they will be happier. If your patients are happier, you will be happier at work. And if you’re happier at work, you’re more than likely going to be happier when you’re not at work. It all flows together, so make sure you’re placing enough importance on making your patients happy, comfortable and heard. Leverage today’s conveniences. Many young doctors are using social channels like Twitter to build their brand identities and network. This is a much more convenient way to improve your career because you choose what and when to post online, as well as how often. With that in mind, you can be sure you’re doing the right amount of networking and knowledge sharing while still maintaining a healthy non-work life. As a new doctor, you’re probably eager to get your career off on the right foot. But you may also have a lot going on at home. That’s okay. It may seem like the hectic days of your past will never end, but with the right work/life balance, you can grow the career you love while maintaining a happy, healthy life. Source
