Finding work-life balance is integral to living a healthy life. As physicians, it can be harder to find balance. Research shows that most physicians work about 51 hours a week, and almost 25% of doctors work up to 80 hours per week. For those with families, this is a considerable amount of time away from home. Fortunately, there are ways to improve your work-life balance, not only to prioritize time with your loved ones but also to avoid burnout.
Prioritize time management
The first tip to balance work and family life is to exercise proper time management. Planning and organizing your schedule will not only help you but will also ensure you have time for both your patients and your family time. The best time management tactics involve finding ways to simplify your daily routines, such as having templates for common health records and even having a schedule for certain tasks. With proper goal setting and organization, you will have time for your family and your work.
Establish boundaries with work
One of the best tactics to ensure you balance family and work life is to set boundaries. These boundaries should ensure that your work and family lives are separate. That means potentially avoiding work emails during your time with your family or even scheduling personal time that does not interfere with any other work-related task. When you set boundaries and establish a clear time for family and work, you’ll feel better and have higher-quality interactions with patients and your loved ones!
Delegate responsibilities to your staff or colleagues
When in doubt, doctors can always find opportunities to delegate tasks to their staff or colleagues. If you find routine tasks taking too much of your time, contact one of your staff members and have them complete it while they are on shift. In some cases, you might even be able to automate a task with technology! If it is a low-priority task that is not too difficult, don’t be afraid to provide the task for your staff to take care of while you focus on the essential tasks and goals for the day.
Embrace self-care to support holistic well-being
Doctors who want more balance between family and work should embrace self-care to support their holistic well-being. Self-care can be as simple as regular exercise, eating a balanced diet, and seeking help. As physicians, keeping healthy is essential not only for oneself but also for supporting one’s patients. These efforts in the long term will ensure you avoid burnout and promote your overall long-term health, ensuring you are present for family and work commitments without hesitation.
Consider working flexible hours and using telemedicine tools
If you genuinely would like to embrace more of a balance between work and family life, many doctors have considered using telemedicine to enjoy more flexible working hours. Using technology can be a fantastic way to save time and streamline your work processes. While there are new and exciting tools being developed every day, AI and telemedicine are the current innovations you can leverage, allowing you to optimize your time and enjoy more time with your family in the future.
Find more ways to balance your family and work life this year
Doctors have several ways to improve their work-life balance, especially with the current innovations in the industry. From straightforward tips like prioritizing self-care to using technology like telemedicine, you can incorporate these tips to truly enjoy a more balanced 2024. Remember: the healthier and more balanced your life is, the better you can serve your patients as a physician at work.
