Happiness

[namethatsmell]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Things here feel a bit stagnant...so...

What's the single most important decision you've made or action you've taken to make your work more enjoyable and fulfilling while decreasing the likelihood you'll burn out?

 

[Vandalia]

Stop hanging around with physicians outside of work. The more time you spend with "normal' people, the more you realize that you have a great job.

 

[msgsk]

Realize you're not going to retire in a year. This job isn't a race to see how quickly you can get to the end. It's hard to say 'no' to open shifts but you have to have a life.

 

[RustedFox]

Get 100% of your charting done while on shift; that way you don't even think about what you left undone when you're back home.

 

[EM_Rebuilder]

Cut back, pick up more administrative roles and ultimately build two free standing emergency centers. The book is still being written, but I haven't felt this excited about the future in some time....


I agree with the mention above about hanging out with non doctors. We make more money in a few months than most (more like all) of our non-physician friends. Although I 'feel' like I work more, they are working 8-5, M-F. I would be working 12-12s and headed to Vegas, beach, NYC, etc for the weekend every few months. We always want more, but in reality, I always argue that most of us could work a few days a month and still make more than most Americans....

 

[Groove]

I got on Amazon and bought a bath brush made of boar bristles for scrubbing my back... and a pair of those infomercial perfect pushup elites.

I'm pretty stoked.

Def the highlight of my week. I feel less burnt out already.

 

[Doctor Bob]

and a pair of those infomercial perfect pushup elites.

I'm wary about using those... since I still have to do PT tests with the military my fear is that I'd get used to the mechanics of the wrist rotation then not do so well when I test without them.

I suppose I could just do regular pushups in addition to using those devices... but that's way too much work.

 

[Birdstrike]

Work as few shifts in the Emergency Department as possible, preferably < 120 per month. Also, work as few night shifts as possible. Seeing that helps. If you're at less than 120hr per month, and working few or no night shifts and still hate your job, you need to change jobs. If it still persists beyond more than 2 or 3 job changes while working <120 hr per month and few if any nights, then you may need to get out of the ED, period. Your tour of duty in EDs may have run its course. This is not a bad thing, not a sign of weakness or failure, and not a state easily fit into a box and easily labeled as "burnout" as it is popular to do. It can be completely healthy. There are ways to do this without "throwing it all away." There is no incontrovertible law of the Universe stating you must work around the clock, 24/7/365 in an emergency department to be happy, fully productive and fulfilled as a doctor and human being. Heresy, I know, but true.

 

[The White Coat Investor]

Work as few shifts in the Emergency Department as possible, preferably < 120 per month.

I agree that working fewer than 120 shifts a month really helps with burnout. 🙂

Seriously, the best thing I ever did for my happiness was get out of the military. I make 4 times as much, get to live in a state I want to live in, never deploy, have a much slower pace at work, and never have to do really stupid crap as part of my job. Other things that help:

1) Keep hours moderate
2) Minimize nights
3) Financial independence (i.e. keeping spending down so you don't feel like you have to work more)
4) Own your job. Not only do you feel more control, but you actually have more control to do what you want to do, such as see fewer patients per hour by scheduling more docs. It's hard to feel burnt out at 1.5 pph.
5) Find an interest outside of medicine and pursue it with just as much passion as you pursue medicine.
6) Get your loving at home. Your job doesn't define you.

 

[Perrin]

I do manual labor around the house. I know the opportunity cost is dismal, but I get build things the way I want to and I have an excuse to buy more tools. The past winter, I floored and shelved the walk in attic. This spring I built a raised bed garden, rainwater collection system, and a compost bin. Right now I'm repairing and growing a terribly sodded lawn. It's nice doing hard physical work that my family will get to enjoy.

 

[GeneralVeers]

I use all my airline/hotel/rental car points from locums travel to go free on Emirates First Class on the A380. Taking a shower during a long-haul flight is a great stress reliever.

 

[namethatsmell]

Thanks all for sharing, love the specific examples!

 

[RustedFox]

Diversify your job scene.

I now have a full-time gig, and several 'part-time' gigs that serve as a "bullpen" of jobs. It really keeps things lively.