A powerful tool to use in improving your day-to-day experience is your own mind. Last week we discussed the first step of optimization - writing and reflecting on your thoughts. This week we will use that download to move on to step 2.
By default, we believe our thoughts to be true. However, physicians, like most humans, have imperfect brains. Our thoughts, the sentences in our heads that our minds automatically produce, are colored by our experiences, the beliefs we grew up with, our...
It's the beginning of the new academic year in medicine. So, I thought this was the perfect time to write a blog series about a fundamental strategy of coaching – optimizing the mindset. Over the next few weeks, I will walk you through one method I use with those I coach.
Mindset is a mental inclination, a way of thinking. It's essentially the lens through which you view things, a frame of mind. It's also one of the best places to focus effort as it can improve how you...
This week we are rounding out the Action Needed for the Wellbeing of Medicine Series regarding physician wellness by addressing our colleagues' well-being. We first addressed organization and structural actions, then self-actions, and now we move on to our colleagues.
I will open with a quote from Dr. Mukta Panda, MD, MACP, FRCP, the Assistant Dean for Well-being and Medical Student Education and Professor at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine.
“We cannot...
We are in a three-week series called Action Needed for the Wellbeing of Medicine. Last week we covered well-being from an organizational standpoint because we know that 80% of the contributors toward burnout are related to the systems. Today we are shifting our focus to the 20% that we have some control over to prevent and treat burnout and improve our own wellbeing.
First, let me start by saying I know you are already resilient. The rigorous process of premed, MCAT, medical...
I am starting a three-week series called Action Needed for the Wellbeing of Medicine. You would think since I've read, researched, written about, and coached around burnout for long enough, that I wouldn't continue to listen, read, and learn. I mean – I experienced it firsthand as a mid-career physician before I had words to describe it. I healed from it. I learned tools to prevent and treat it. And yet, I am still learning – for myself, my patients, my physician clients, and...
This week, we are continuing to focus on common tendencies that hinder our ability to best navigate the demands on our time, energy, and attention. Last week we covered people-pleasing and exaggerated reputation management. This week we will unpack self-judgment and the procrastination habit.
Most of us have such unrealistic expectations for ourselves, that we regularly subconsciously wallow in self-judgment. When asked to take on a project or task we’d prefer to decline, some of...
This week, we are focusing on a spin-off issue around navigating the demands on your time, energy, and attention. Four common issues arise that side-track us. 1. People-Pleasing. 2. Reputation Management. 3. Self-Judgment 4. The Procrastination Habit. Let’s start with the first two.
People-pleasing for physicians sounds so nice, doesn’t it? What could possibly be wrong with it? I think the answer lies within the definition. If you love to serve and make others’ lives...
Week 4 Navigating Demands.
We each have people or tasks that demand our time, energy, and attention – usually many more than one human can tackle. This week we will discuss how we can optimally manage the requests. Hopefully, you crafted your own purpose-in-career statement from last week’s exercise. You will use that and your core values as part of the process. If you haven’t done it yet, take the time to work through it, as it will be valuable for...
We are continuing our Purpose-in-Career Series. This week I offer you a working blog. Go ahead and get out something to write with and on (or, if you prefer, something to type into). I combined a few methods I’ve experienced and added my own takes. (I don’t have the original attributions as they were either not given to me, or I don’t recall.) You get to design and/or discover your own purpose as it plays out in the professional realm. You don’t have to wait for...
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