A Guide to Better Physician Work-Life Balance

In his opinion article on physician work-life balance published in Frontiers, Dr. Arun Saini writes, "Physician dissatisfaction is an important issue and has significant consequences on various aspects of the modern health care system, including patient care, physicians' well-being, and growth and viability of the medical field." We could not agree more. Self-care and work-life balance are valued more in society than they used to be. Physicians still push themselves to the limit, and a poor balance can lead to physician burnout. Here is how to build a better work-life balance for you and your team.

Breaks matter for well-being and job performance. A break is a break - no work during breaks. Not actively working is not enough. Give yourself and your team a comfortable place to relax and let go of what is happening at work. A good break room might include a comfortable couch or two for power naps, free snacks and drinks, and quiet music. Sound-proofing just outside the room helps keep it quieter. Breaks are also a good time to step outside. Fresh air is especially useful when you spend the day in a medical office.

Delegate at work and outside of it. Time off is not always real time off when the lawn, laundry, or pool still need attention. Outsource some errands - dry cleaning, lawn care, and similar chores - so you get extra time for yourself. Use that time for what you enjoy or for family. Real time off is liberating.

Plan stimulating activities when you are off. Keep your mind sharp with things that are not medical-related. You can try: - Reading a non-medical book - Exercising - Trying a new sport or activity - Learning a new recipe - Playing video games - Picking up an instrument - Arts and crafts - Spending time with your family - A meal with friends The list is endless. The point is to get your mind off work. Doing nothing at home can be great, but your mind may wander back to the clinic or the next shift. If you run your own office, consider planning an optional work hangout - just do not make it required.

Many people become physicians to do good in the world. It is easy to lose sight of that. Take a minute or two each morning to remind yourself that your work makes a difference. If you run a clinic, highlight feel-good stories at work. With consent, put up a patient photo and show what the team did and how it helped. Physicians can save or change lives - do not forget that what you do has power.

Getting off work sooner can help work-life balance in a very practical way. Paperwork keeps many physicians at work longer than they need to be. Physicians spend nearly 2 hours on electronic health record tasks for every hour of direct patient care. Dragon Medical One can help cut that documentation time. Speak your notes and the software enters what you say into the system your clinic already uses. Activate the microphone, speak your encounter notes, and finish charts faster. Rated an industry-leading medical speech-recognition product for years running, Dragon Medical One is about 99% accurate at up to 160 words per minute - roughly three times faster than most people type.

Better balance comes from real breaks, clearer boundaries outside work, and less after-hours documentation. Cutting EHR time is one of the most concrete ways to give physicians hours back for rest, family, and life outside the clinic.