This month’s reader survey is about wellness. And, like every survey in Monthly Musings, it is totally anonymous. I’m interested in understanding how readers think about work-life balance, stress and personal fulfillment.
Collectively, the answers will inform future newsletters and Forbes articles.
Please finish the following sentences by selecting the ONE option that best applies:
1. I believe work-life balance _________.
- improves mental health (45%, 54 Votes)
- increases productivity (33%, 40 Votes)
- improves physical health (12%, 15 Votes)
- is impossible to achieve (8%, 10 Votes)
- reduces productivity (2%, 2 Votes)
Total Voters: 121
Loading ...2. The greatest source of fulfillment in my life comes from ______.
- family (50%, 60 Votes)
- spouse or significant other (19%, 23 Votes)
- work (13%, 16 Votes)
- hobbies or personal interests (9%, 11 Votes)
- friends (7%, 8 Votes)
- Other (comment below to clarify) (1%, 1 Votes)
Total Voters: 119
Loading ...3. The greatest source of stress in my life comes from ______.
- work (54%, 65 Votes)
- family (14%, 17 Votes)
- finances (14%, 17 Votes)
- spouse or significant other (8%, 9 Votes)
- Other (comment below to clarify) (6%, 7 Votes)
- personal health (4%, 5 Votes)
Total Voters: 120
Loading ...4. My work is ______.
- enjoyable and fulfilling (42%, 51 Votes)
- stressful (29%, 35 Votes)
- filled with meaningful relationships (16%, 19 Votes)
- a source of income and nothing more (5%, 6 Votes)
- depressing (4%, 5 Votes)
- Other (comment below to clarify) (4%, 5 Votes)
Total Voters: 121
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Looking Back: An Update On The July Reader Survey
Last month’s reader survey asked you about the midterm elections and which healthcare issues might play a role in the vote you cast. Check out the results below …
Dr. Robert Pearl is the former CEO of The Permanente Medical Group, the nation’s largest physician group. He’s the bestselling author of “Mistreated: Why We Think We’re Getting Good Health Care–And Why We’re Usually Wrong” and a Stanford University professor. Follow him on Twitter @RobertPearlMD.
Retired. Not working. I cannot rule out being a victim of physician burnout, but I retired at an older age than originally planned for financial reasons, although I think my colleagues who are still working would like to think it was burnout so they can justify asking for less work hours. My two cents.
2. The greatest source of fulfillment in my life comes from spouse, hobbies or personal interests.
Work life balance is within, they don’t teach us that in medical school or residency. It starts there trying to reach unreachable. Message learned through years is “do more”, instead of ” do your best”, learning on how to step back, catch your breath, look around and realize that we are blessed in many ways is an acquired habit.
My work is stressful. Not enough time to do the work is the source of that stress. It would be unbearable if not for meaningful relationships with the people I serve, and work with. Given a choice, I checked meaningful relationships. But not to give the impression that meaningful relationships is what characterizes my work. It is what saves it and makes it sustainable.
Re: the above “look around and realize that we are blessed in many ways is an acquired habit.” I do keep a gratitude journal. When I find the time to. . .. But I am daily, consistently grateful for many things about my life, and my work and workplace. Still, yesterday I ended my afternoon > 1 hour late for my last patient. Today only 1 hour. The urologists tell me drinking more water will prevent more kidney stones. 2 litres of urine a day? 2000 ml/ 400 ml = full bladder equals 5 urinations a day. At a more comfortable 250 ml, that’s 8 voids per day. I usually pee once in a 1/2 day of work. Drinking water and emptying bladder. Simple basic things of a human life. And yet they get shut down in the frantic attempt to not get too far behind. Reminds me of animals that will not reproduce if they do not have adequate fat stores. Basic, essential function, shut down for a season.
More musings on time. Had a crown done today. 1 hour 15 minutes. The dentist set aside the appropriate amount of time. He was on time for me. He moved on to his next patient (on time, I’m hope). I wonder if he takes time to drink water. I do think there is something we physicians can learn from the dentists.
Anyhow, I’m wasting time. Got two days of charts to do.