Physicians have high pressure jobs, and over the years that pressure often leads to physician burnout. But there is a way that physicians can put an end to that highly stressed, burnt out feeling.

With a better work/life balance.

From how to make time for yourself to how you can better spend your time in the workplace, here are seven tips to balance work and home life as a doctor. 

Determine What Your Ideal Work/Life Balance Is

Before you put a plan in place to create a home and work balance, decide what your ideal balance is. It’s different for everyone.

For some doctors, it’s a 50/50 split. For others, 30% work time and 60% downtime is the preferred option. Think about how much time you want to spend at work and how much time you don’t, then structure a plan to achieve that balance.

Do All of Your Work in the Workplace

It’s important to keep your work life and home life separate and distinct. Draw a clear line between the two in your mind and make it a point to not do work at home and not tackle personal issues in the workplace.

Whether you work in a hospital, in private practice, or in a group practice with other physicians, do not take work home with you. That includes not checking or answering emails, reviewing patient files, or handling administrative tasks when your workday is done.

Depending on the type of medicine you practice, answering phone calls when you’re not at work may or may not be an option. If you must, reserve that as the only work-related task you’re willing to do when you’re off the clock.

Improve Time Management Skills

Doctors often think they don’t have enough time to enjoy their home life because they have so much work to do. But that’s not always the case. Sometimes, how you spend your time can make your workload seem heavier than it is. You can correct that by learning better time management skills.

Create a daily schedule and make a to-do list for each day or each week. Monitor how you’re spending your time and where you’re wasting it. Learning how to use your time effectively can free up hours each week!

Managing your time well requires focus, and it’s difficult to focus when you’re under a lot of stress. If you’re stressed about financial obligations or your own personal health, which are two things that many doctors worry about, take measures to put your mind at ease. You can relieve some of that stress simply by getting disability insurance or working with a financial advisor to better manage your budget.

Checkout this article from Physicians Thrive to learn where to get disability insurance and this article from NerdWallet to learn how to create a smart household budget.

Learn to Prioritize

When creating to-do lists, prioritize tasks by what’s most important and tackle those first. That way, you can leave work knowing that all of the most crucial tasks are done.  

It’s also important to prioritize some personal tasks as well. For example, if you have an upcoming anniversary, a child’s birthday, or theater tickets, put those on your schedule and structure your day or week around those events.

Carve Out Time for Family and Friends

Spending time with your family and friends is crucial. No matter how devoted you are to your patients or your practice, be sure to carve out enough time each week to spend with the ones you love.

This could be in the form of a nightly family dinner, a weekly date night, or bi-monthly weekend getaways.

It’s also a good idea to set aside a little “me time.” Practicing self-care, exercising regularly, and enjoying your personal hobbies will only make you feel happier and more fulfilled.

Set Boundaries

Set boundaries with colleagues, coworkers, and employers. That means adhering to the schedule and responsibilities as stated in your employment contract and learning how to say no when asked to pick up someone else’s slack.

As a doctor, there will inevitably be days where your schedule goes awry. But with a set of boundaries in place, those days should become more occasional as opposed to being the norm. 

Create a Bucket List

It’s not just about having a balance of time between work and home — it matters what you do with that time.

A great way to make the most of your free time is to start checking things off your bucket list. If that includes going on an African safari or jumping out of an airplane, schedule vacation days to do so.

You can also create weekly bucket lists of things you want to do every week or every month. That might include reading a new book every two weeks, attending a yoga class every weekend, or going to a concert, performance, or sporting event at least once a month.

The more limited your time outside of work is, the more important it is to spend it doing things you love.

In Conclusion

Learning how to balance work life and home life takes time, and you can start today by defining what your ideal balance looks like. With that goal in mind, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying your time at work, at home, and everywhere in between.