How to Have a Healthy Life Balance as an Academic Physician

Abstract

The well-being of physicians has personal, professional, and public health ramifications. A physician’s personal health and well-being is not only vital to the individual physician and his or her family members and community but may also impact that physician’s life professionally. Moreover, on a larger societal scale, physician wellness also likely serves a critical role in the delivery of high-quality healthcare. Even for those physicians who understand this connection and are motivated to improve their situation, practical obstacles of time and energy factor in. After the essential tasks of one’s work and personal responsibilities are fulfilled, physicians may feel there is little time left to create change that could lead to improvement in health or well-being. This chapter will provide strategies to address this particularly vexing problem many physicians face: how to optimally balance work and personal life to enhance the outcome on both sides.