TLDR at bottom* 

The Challenge of Staying Engaged in Medicine

There’s no doubt that practicing medicine is rewarding, but it can also be exhausting. Between administrative burdens, long hours, and the emotional weight of patient care, at times, it’s easy to feel disconnected from the joy that once drew us to this field. Many physicians—residents and faculty alike—struggle with burnout and question whether they’re making the impact they hoped for.

So, how do we reconnect with what truly matter...

We conclude the Finding Joy in the Journey of Medicine series this week by looking at your well-being investment and why language matters.

I’ll break self-maintenance or your investment in your own well-being into - physical care, mental fitness, and emotional health  (including healthy coping strategies and boundaries) to name a few components. Neglecting self-care leads to poorer physical, mental, and emotional health. Putting time and attention toward it, on the other hand, goes a long wa...

We are in a series on finding and cultivating joy in the journey of medicine and avoiding the arrival fallacy. This week are on to the next approach: Perspective. I lump several strategies under this category - gratefulness, practical positive cognitive psychology, growth mindset, and self-compassion. 

I, along with many others, have written, taught, and coached on all these topics, so I suspect they are not new to you. However, let’s harness these approaches to find joy now rather than wai...

We are continuing to unpack ways in which to begin enjoying the joy in the journey of medicine as we work toward our goals. We have already discussed awareness and expectations & acceptance  -  this week we are focusing on intentionality - scheduling, mindful presence, and alignment. I implore you to look through a self-compassionate lens on this week's topic. Don't allow your inner critic to beat you up. Look for one or two small tweaks you can make and build consistency in. This is a process t...

We are on the quest to uncover your personalized way to best enjoy the journey of medicine. Last week, I introduced the concept of a multi-pronged approach and covered the initial step – awareness. Today, we start with expectations (and acceptance). 

Expectations can be tricky.

I used to joke as my husband completely renovated two houses over 8-11 years each: "low expectations equals high satisfaction.” In reality, what worked for me as I cooked on a butane camping burner for three year...

We are on a blog journey about finding and creating joy along our paths in medicine. Last week, we defined joy for the purposes of this blog - at two levels - a broader affective state and a momentary emotion. This week, I want to turn our attention to awareness - where wonderful things start to find their way under our agency. Awareness of the Trap, the Current Joys, the Gap, and Possibility of finding joy in the journey. 

The Trap. Let's recap and take a deeper dive into a trap common to p...