Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Physician heal thyself: Practice medicine on your own terms

Nana Korsah, MD
Physician
June 16, 2018
525 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

Being intentional about everything in your life is one of the major pillars to having a balanced life. It all begins with organizing your priorities; and once you have set your priorities, you can develop a schedule that reflects them. In my case, my top priority is having a career that will allow me to live life on my own terms. Personally, living life on my own terms means having flexibility to balance my career while being present for my children and the rest of my family. To achieve this, I switched from being a nephrologist to being a hospitalist, working as a locum tenens physician. This saves me from working at night and being on-call. Working shifts means work ends when I leave my workspace; and this allows me to leave work at work. This has given me immense flexibility in my life.

When it comes to my schedule, I plan a month ahead of time. Any activities concerning my kids [or family in general] are placed on the calendar first. After that, I review what working days my locum tenens hospitals have available, and I offer to work on the days that do not conflict with family time.

You’re probably thinking, “of course you can have such a schedule … you’re working as a locum tenens physician!” I beg to differ. In your current work situation, you can look at ways of building flexibility into your schedule. One way you can do this is by working with colleagues to have inside arrangements that are favorable for both your needs and theirs. You can also renegotiate your contract to have some half days, or you can use your vacation time to be more available for your children/family, especially during milestones and events that they would want you to be present for. If possible, switch to your dream job that has all the qualities you want; I know of people who have done that and they are living on cloud nine. Why not you? You deserve it.

Discouraging thoughts like, “I am stuck,” “physicians don’t get to work in their dream job … that doesn’t exist,” “wanting flexibility in medicine is mission impossible,” “wanting a balanced life as a doctor is insane,” will inevitably pop into your mind. But guess what? You get to build your life on your terms! It is very doable. I, along with several other individuals I know, are living proof of this.

What are your top three priorities? Going forward, can you implement just the top priority in your life as much as possible? What will that look like? How will that make you feel? Start thinking about these things and how you would manifest them. As always, self-experimentation is the key to opening up new possibilities in your life. Give it a shot and see what happens.

Nana Korsah is a nephrologist and can be reached at MD Work & Life Balance.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

The story of a physician who fought back against MOC

June 16, 2018 Kevin 8
…
Next

Call suicide by what it is: the cause of death

June 17, 2018 Kevin 1
…

Tagged as: Practice Management

Post navigation

< Previous Post
The story of a physician who fought back against MOC
Next Post >
Call suicide by what it is: the cause of death

More by Nana Korsah, MD

  • A physician’s journey to working from home

    Nana Korsah, MD
  • What this physician wish she knew about money as a young doctor

    Nana Korsah, MD
  • Work-life balance doesn’t have to be a myth

    Nana Korsah, MD

Related Posts

  • Healer: Heal thyself; forgive thyself

    Michele Luckenbaugh
  • A physician’s addiction to social media

    Amanda Xi, MD
  • Improving physician satisfaction by eliminating unnecessary practice burdens

    Yul Ejnes, MD
  • Why academic medicine needs to value physician contributions to online platforms

    Ariela L. Marshall, MD
  • How social media can advance humanism in medicine

    Pooja Lakshmin, MD
  • Medicine rewards self-sacrifice often at the cost of physician happiness

    Daniella Klebaner

More in Physician

  • A tense family drama unfolds as a young daughter pursues unconventional career path

    Osmund Agbo, MD
  • Decoding the brain’s decision-making: insights for medical professions and strategies for success

    Harvey Castro, MD, MBA
  • Unmasking the truth: the shocking reality of the opioid epidemic and who’s really to blame

    Jay K. Joshi, MD
  • Discover your true north: Navigating life’s confusions and embracing your path to success

    Tyler Jorgensen, MD
  • Revealing America’s expansion: the dark truth of Native American suffering and unjustified abuses

    Anonymous
  • From journalism to medicine: Unveiling the untold stories of patients’ medical conditions

    Veronica Bonales, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Is chaos in health care leading us towards socialized medicine? How physician burnout is a catalyst.

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
    • Boxing legends Tyson and Foreman: powerful lessons for a resilient and evolving health care future

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • A physician’s typical day, as envisioned by a non-clinician health care MBA: a satire

      Jennifer Lycette, MD | Physician
    • Revealing America’s expansion: the dark truth of Native American suffering and unjustified abuses

      Anonymous | Physician
    • The tragic story of Mr. G: a painful journey towards understanding suicide

      William Lynes, MD | Physician
    • Decoding name displays in health care: Privacy, identification, and compliance unveiled

      Deepak Gupta, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
    • An inspiring tribute to an exceptional radiologist who made a lasting impact

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
    • Proactive risk management: a game-changer in preventing physician burnout

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Physician employment contracts: the key to fighting burnout and improving working conditions [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • A tense family drama unfolds as a young daughter pursues unconventional career path

      Osmund Agbo, MD | Physician
    • Decoding the brain’s decision-making: insights for medical professions and strategies for success

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • Unmasking the truth: the shocking reality of the opioid epidemic and who’s really to blame

      Jay K. Joshi, MD | Physician
    • Discover your true north: Navigating life’s confusions and embracing your path to success

      Tyler Jorgensen, MD | Physician
    • A revolution in patient empowerment: Working together to save our medical system [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

Leave a Comment

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • Insomnia Symptoms Tied to Stroke a Decade Later
  • Studies Question Role of CDK4/6 Inhibitors in First-Line Advanced Breast Cancer
  • Full-On Reversal of Cardiac Amyloidosis Possible With Antibodies
  • Spell Check-Up: Do You Have the Skills to Pass This Spelling Test?
  • For Some, Sex Is Better Sleep Aid Than Pill, Small Survey Finds

Meeting Coverage

  • Studies Question Role of CDK4/6 Inhibitors in First-Line Advanced Breast Cancer
  • For Some, Sex Is Better Sleep Aid Than Pill, Small Survey Finds
  • Skipping Radiotherapy 'Seems Safe' for PMBCL Patients in Remission
  • Promising Gene Therapy for Overactive Bladder
  • Shotgun Sequencing of Small Intestine Reveals Species Tied to GI Symptom Severity
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Is chaos in health care leading us towards socialized medicine? How physician burnout is a catalyst.

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
    • Boxing legends Tyson and Foreman: powerful lessons for a resilient and evolving health care future

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • A physician’s typical day, as envisioned by a non-clinician health care MBA: a satire

      Jennifer Lycette, MD | Physician
    • Revealing America’s expansion: the dark truth of Native American suffering and unjustified abuses

      Anonymous | Physician
    • The tragic story of Mr. G: a painful journey towards understanding suicide

      William Lynes, MD | Physician
    • Decoding name displays in health care: Privacy, identification, and compliance unveiled

      Deepak Gupta, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
    • An inspiring tribute to an exceptional radiologist who made a lasting impact

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
    • Proactive risk management: a game-changer in preventing physician burnout

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Physician employment contracts: the key to fighting burnout and improving working conditions [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • A tense family drama unfolds as a young daughter pursues unconventional career path

      Osmund Agbo, MD | Physician
    • Decoding the brain’s decision-making: insights for medical professions and strategies for success

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • Unmasking the truth: the shocking reality of the opioid epidemic and who’s really to blame

      Jay K. Joshi, MD | Physician
    • Discover your true north: Navigating life’s confusions and embracing your path to success

      Tyler Jorgensen, MD | Physician
    • A revolution in patient empowerment: Working together to save our medical system [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...