Love Being A Doctor: 35 Practical Changes That Made My Life Better

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Do you love being a doctor? Is your job satisfaction level a 9 or 10 on a 10-point scale?  If not, continue reading.

Love Being a Doctor vs Like Being a Doctor

A lot of doctors answer 6 or 7.  As seen in responses here:  WhiteCoatInvestor.com.  

Younger folks had higher scores.  It got me thinking.  I was a 9 or 10 on the career satisfaction score when I started.  

It may have dipped to an 8 or so for a decade.  A few years ago, mine went to a 6 or 7 as I neared the end of my second decade of practice.  

That pattern may be common, but I didn’t like it.

Physician Burnout – in the Mirror

Where would it end? Am I required to endure this downward spiral?

Should I change to a different practice setting? I even considered early retirement in my 40’s.

For me the changes were gradual.  I almost didn’t notice the lowering quality of life over time.  

I started reading about physician burnout.  My colleagues needed help.  The more I learned the more I could guide them. 

It dawned on me though that I too was heading down that road and was much farther than I realized.

I took a step back.  My reading about burnout had a new purpose – to apply the ideas to my life.  

Can Happiness Change?

Fortunately, about 50% of a person’s well-being is genetic and mine is positive.  

I needed to work on the other 40% (attitudes, ideas, habits, etc.) and 10% (externals like money, schedule, etc.).  

I made helpful changes.  Some may apply to you. I share them only as examples of what is possible and what I found helpful.

I took online surveys like Myers-Briggs, DISC, and Strength Finder. They helped me learn more about myself.  

I then applied what I learned.  I learned that I’m an “objective thinker”, “an introvert”, and a “lover of learning.”

1. Set a Later Clinic Start Time  

I have learned that I need a lot of sleep.  To achieve, I have learned to grind through on minimal sleep.

But it takes a toll on my mood and work.  I also need some time for the other things in my life like exercise and helping with the kids.

2. Stopped Doing Disability Exams

I usually end up saying the person can work and they disagree.  It is subjective and frustrating.  

And dangerous. The examinees sometimes see me as the one who stopped their gravy train of money for nothing.

3. Stopped Doing IMEs

An Independent Medical Exam (IME) is a one-time history and physical. Only an independent physician can perform them. 

These are often contested legal or insurance issues.  The physician is providing a critical specialty opinion. Charging as an expert can be profitable.

They sometimes end up in personal character assassination, depositions, or court appearances. Some of the examinees are living life on the edge as it is and this made for a lot of unnecessary stress for me.

4. Blocked Out Last 2 Friday Slots

I used to get stuck late Friday night when finishing the work week. My family got tired of waiting.

The fatigue and frustration wore me down. 

5. Scheduled Lunch Breaks  

Yes, I do need a break and yes, I need food.  Why not put that on the schedule and treat it as important as a patient visit?

6. Scheduled Travel Time

I block out time to get from one meeting, clinic, or surgery center to another.

I also scheduled a “travel day” before or after travel for CME.  A weekend conference used to mean getting home late Sunday night.  I was tired and felt I missed a weekend somehow.  

Monday morning was hard and things were only worse later in the week. Taking that Monday off or even a later start can make a world of difference.

7. Expanded Our Clinical Workforce

Our new clinical staff (NP, PA, MD, DO) decreased wait-times while improving patient and physician frustrations.  It also allowed me to cut back on work and hours.

8. Dropped Committees Where I’m Not 100% Essential

People liked me on these committees. Because I showed up.  

I learned a lot in those meetings, but was my presence essential? When the answer was no, out it went. 

9. Skip or Dial Into Every Other Meeting

Sometimes I can be walking on my treadmill at home during the meeting rather than sitting in a chair for 2 hours.  

At one meeting I looked around.  The physician leaders looked stressed, tired, and over-weight.  

That is not what I want for me. I took action.

I decided to make my health a priority.  In my case, that meant more sleep and more exercise.

10. Stopped Agreeing to Every Commitment Offered

There seems to be a committee for everything and more every week.

“I appreciate your giving me this opportunity.  Let me think about it.” Became my default response whenever invited to join a committee. 

Then two days later, “I would have loved to be involved in this important work. Currently, I have too much on my plate.”

Those two responses saved me hundreds of hours away from my family and my other work priorities.

It counteracted my natural tendencies to be flattered and say yes to any free work offered.  Such offers boosted my feeling of importance. But joining a committee ends up meaning more time and self-sacrifice that isn’t worth it.

“I need to find out a little more about this.” That was my new response to any committee I was considering. 

Send follow up inquiries: 

• Could you send me a copy of the charter?
• What does the structure look like?
• Who else has confirmed or been invited?
• Who are the organizers?
• Is there a budget or funding source?
• How often will we meet? What time? Location?
• How will we track outcomes and measure success?
• Is there already an existing team working on this issue?
• This is not a permanent committee, right?
• When will be our final meeting?
• Who is requesting this or supporting this effort?
• Who is opposing this?

If they answer most of those questions, I may join.

11. Plan 2-3 Time-Blocks on Each Weekend  

Recreation is important. We don’t need to have every minute scheduled but everything seems to go better if we have some structure. 

To balance those approaches we started planning one or two activities per weekend day. 

These include family fun, fitness, spiritual work, and hobbies.    We do more and have more fun.

12. Meditate 10 Min Every Weekday Morning

I use the Headspace app.  It is awesome.

13. Exercise 30-45 Min 6 days per Week

Three strength training and three cardio.  

I do this at home to save time.  Most life-long exercisers and people who lose weight and keep it off work out at home. 

Getting to a gym is great but I can’t manage to do that daily with my work and family obligations.  Still, fitness needs to be a high priority.

14. Be More Present When With the Kids

No work at home.  I was complaining that the kids are on “electronics” too much.  

Then I realized that I was on my laptop or iPhone way too much.  Cutting back on that has helped me and my family.

15. Take Breaks

For me, that means a 10 am and 2 pm for a snack, email check, EPIC in-basket check.  

Avoid these activities for the rest of the day.  Checking email or in-baskets during the day is a time waster.

Switching tasks eat up time.  Changing screens, logging in and out, sorting messages all take time.  With less frequent checking many of the “crises” in an e-mail or your EMR may be solved or delegated by the time you check.

16. Avoid Web-Surfing During the Day

Did you ever go to one of those cafés where you pay by the minute for internet use?  That is where I realized checking email and some news takes me 15 minutes.  It is so easy to click and click and get distracted for 20 minutes or more.

17. Prepare For Tomorrow

Schedule time in the afternoon to prepare charts for the next day.  I love coming in knowing that some of my charting is already done.

18. Schedule Regular Date Nights

My wife and I find a babysitter and make time for our relationship.  

It is critical. Unless it is a priority and on the schedule, it doesn’t happen.

19. Take Time Off Work

Whether it is PTO (Paid Time Off) or unpaid, it is restorative.

I now schedule spring break, winter break, and summer vacations,  

I used to let my PTO go to waste. Very macho Super Doc I was.  And very stupid too! My family and I suffered from that attitude.

20. Arrange for Coverage When on Vacation

Whenever I had WiFi access on a break, I used to cover my own in-basket and check in with the office. I know my patients best and it didn’t take long. Then I wouldn’t owe a favor to another doctor.

In reality, the other doctors didn’t mind the extra work.  It added stress and work for me.  I never could completely unwind. One needs to completely unplug and disconnect.

21. Obtained Volunteer Clinical Teaching Positions

The time and work are minimal.  

Teaching students and residents can be fun.  It challenges me and keeps me learning. 

The young minds ask great questions and teach me new technologies.

22. Scheduled “Admin” Time

For me, that meant Tuesday afternoons.

It allows me to catch my breath in the early part of the week so that things don’t build up.  Otherwise, it all crashes on me on Friday.

23. Reduced Productivity Pressures

I encouraged our administration to shift away from a wRVU-productivity compensation model.  

We are now paid a salary plus incentive.  This removes a lot of the “pressure to perform.”  My focus is now on quality medical care and listening to my patients.  

I don’t miss the stress of scampering to the next wRVU-producing procedure.

24. Stopped Allowing Sponsored Meals

Those drug-rep lunches and dinners provided too much of the wrong foods.  

It took time from my charting and made my afternoon rushed or longer.  

The exposures skewed my thinking in an industry direction on minimal science.  I don’t miss them.

25. Joined Medical Informatics

Being proficient with computers is part of modern medicine.  Love it or hate it, computers are here to stay.

Rather than just avoid them or complain about them, I decided to embrace electronic medical records.

My hospital network was eager to have physician involvement.  

It serves many purposes.  Including income and breaks from clinical work.  

By teaching others, I learn how to chart better and faster.  I have better access to IT help when I have a problem.  

My employer pays for my trips to Madison, WI. (I enjoyed the one in August, but not so much the one in February!).

26. Refer Out Less Desirable Procedures

Because I can do them, it doesn’t mean I must do them. 

If I don’t enjoy them, or am not that great at them, or they are not worth my time.  Out they go.

27. Scheduled More Time per Patient

I enjoy the encounters more when I have more time.  I am able to listen better.  Who knew?

28. Express Enthusiasm and Empathy

I have always felt both during office visits. But I didn’t always show them.  

I started this to improve my “patient experience” scores (NRC-Picker).  I started for the wrong, cynical reason. 

The effect of that change surprised me. The patients and I seem to connect better.  We both enjoy those encounters more. 

29. Clarified My Financial Situation

Confirmed that I am FI (Financially Independent).  Being FI reduces billing and production pressures. 

30. Delegate Office Work

Most were operational tasks. An assistant with minimal training and supervision performs them. 

31. Set Challenging Professional Goals

That could be a new sub-specialty certification.  

It would be easy at this stage of my career to drop some of my credentials. 

I would rather challenge myself to grow.  I don’t want to wind down or stagnate. 

Learning new techniques and knowledge can energize you. Sharing tips with and learning from colleagues and fellows is rejuvenating. 

32. Later Clinic Start Time

I made Wednesday my late-start day. That gives me valuable weekday morning time. 

It has allowed me to attend grand rounds, put my kids on the bus, workout, or meet a friend for coffee.

33. Fewer Patients in One Morning

I chose Wednesday mornings for this slower pace. That gives me time to talk to and teach the residents who are usually with me then.

34. Improved Speech Recognition

Upgrading my software and microphone made a huge difference. I learned how to optimize settings and functions. Making even a few verbal commands make charting quicker and easier.

35. I Learned How to Use the “Sticky Note” in My EMR

This “private” area in the EMR is seen by only me. I note personal things about the patient. 

Those may be upcoming vacation plans or a tidbit about their granddaughter. Patients feel cared for and appreciated when a doctor pays attention to them as a person. 

They are more likely to cut that doctor some slack when they forget a detail or mess something up. 

The follow-up visit will be more fun for me and them. 

What is the result of these changes?  Well, a lot of good and nothing bad.  

Now I Love Being a Doctor

I have a closer relationship with my family members.  I’m teaching and learning more.  

I have less stress and shorter hours.  And I am making more money.  

I don’t want to quit any time soon.  Retiring isn’t on my radar.

Now I love being a doctor again.  My satisfaction is 9 to 9.5​

You may never reach that level. Every person and situation is different.  If making changes is difficult or impossible in your job then stack cash and then quit.

I share this since the changes I made improved the quality of my life both on and off the job. 

You Have Leverage at Work

A few of my colleagues have tried some of these changes and had good experiences.  I hope this list will inspire you to make a change for the better.

Many doctors feel powerless, but after learning some basics of negotiation skills they become empowered.

Have you made changes that improved the quality of your life?  Do you hate being a doctor, like it, or love it?

My suggestion is to pick one change on this list and work to make it happen over the next quarter.  The improvement may surprise you.

Society will benefit when you love being a doctor.  You will enjoy it and continue to practice and serve patients who need you.

So, what do you think of being a doctor?  Will you love it or leave it?

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