For many physicians, your work is a calling, not just a career – so while work/life balance might not always be as flexible as it is in other professions, an overwhelming number of physicians are happy with their choice. But if you’re a family doctor operating during the pandemic, overworking could seem like a ‘new normal’. With an increase in difficult patients, stressful working conditions, and new technologies, it can be harder than ever to find the balance you need. So how can you help your patients while saving your sanity? Here are some things to look out for:

• Spot Signs of Burnout

    Physician burnout can be a challenge for doctors in all specializations. Depersonalization (when you stop having empathy for or start complaining about your patients), feeling emotionally exhausted, or feeling like you’re not making a difference anymore can all be signs of burnout, and these shouldn’t be ignored. Not only are burned out doctors more than twice as likely to make mistakes, they’re also more likely to have problems in their personal relationships.

    Since family doctors are on the front lines of medicine in Canada, you’re at a higher risk for physician burnout – especially if you work longer hours, have a heavy administrative load, or see many difficult patients. Taking time off, reaching out to supportive family members or friends, or finding ways to reduce your hours and admin time can all be helpful ways to stop physician burnout before it gets out of hand. 

• Separate Work and Play 

    When it comes to working in a global pandemic, working from home can have its disadvantages. With most family doctors performing at least a portion of their work virtually, it can be tempting to spend more of your leisure time answering emails, doing admin work, or following up on lab results. But if too many of these responsibilities start to creep into your leisure time, you can end up feeling overworked and burned out. Although bringing work home can sometimes be inevitable, setting rules around when and where you do it – like doing your admin work on a Saturday morning in your home office or seeing virtual patients only on certain days each week – can help you get the downtime you need, without sacrificing the care you provide to your patients. 

• Be Flexible

    According to a survey done by the College of Family Physicians of Canada, 90% of family medicine practitioners have made some changes to their clinical practice during the pandemic. Whether it’s by offering more telemedicine visits, extending their operating hours, or making bigger changes such as moving to a new practice or working as a locum, more family doctors are facing new work environments than ever. But while longer hours, a new commute, or working somewhere different can all contribute to feeling stressed, acknowledging that these changes are happening – and adapting to them when they do – can help you stay balanced. 

Tools such as cleaning services, childcare providers, or grocery delivery can help you make more of your time at home when you’re working long hours. Creating a comfortable space for your home office can make transitioning into a virtual care role easier. Taking the time to get familiar with any new patient files, administrative procedures, or EMR systems before you start in a new workplace can help to make the transition into a new clinic or locum role more smooth. Being prepared for change is important, and the more flexible you can be with the balance between your personal and professional life – acknowledging that it might look a little different than it used to – the easier you’ll be able to cope.

• Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness doesn’t have to involve mantras or meditations – the Canadian Medical Association suggests taking a few minutes to plan out your day before getting started, making time to be present and take some deep breaths throughout the day, and limiting notifications from your phone and email, which allows you to focus on what you’re doing while you’re doing it. Similarly, the Association for Physician Leadership suggests making a ‘mindful transition’ from work into your home life, taking a few minutes to yourself to end your workday before going home to your friends or family. 

• Learn to Say No

    One of the most important parts of managing your work life balance is setting boundaries. Having a good idea of what you find important and meaningful to you both at work and at home will help you say no to the things that are less important to you – so you can focus more on what you enjoy.