Working in the medical field in any capacity is incredibly demanding. Doctors have it especially hard, though, because virtually everything falls on them. As such, burnout is essentially inevitable—unless you disengage from your work first. Disengaging is a subconscious way to avoid burnout, but that doesn’t mean it’s preferable. At the end of the day, disengaging will affect your bedside manner and ultimately prevent you from providing the best healing and wellness care possible. Thankfully, you can combat disengagement by reviewing some of the most common causes so you know to address them as soon as they arise. 

3 Reasons Why Doctors Disengage 

1. They're Overbooked 

Promoting healing and wellness is a process. If you’re limited to 15 minutes with each patient, though, it will be virtually impossible to have the kind of impact you want to achieve. If you find yourself in such a scenario, it’s natural to disengage and treat every patient as just another cog in the wheel because it may seem like it will reduce frustration. As long as you’re in private practice, though, you can simply extend appointment times to prevent overbooking. 

2. They’re Underutilized  

Sometimes, disengagement can be attributed to boredom. If you’re seeing the same kinds of cases over and over, you won’t get the fulfillment that comes with resolving complex issues. Thankfully, combatting this form of disengagement is relatively straightforward. Consider learning something new so you can add additional healing and wellness services to your practice. 

3. They’re Overworked

It’s not uncommon for physicians to work 60 to 80 hours a week, especially if they're running their own practice. When anyone is overworked, “checking out” mentally is the natural response. Sleep deprivation, stress, and a general sense of discontent fuel this type of disengagement. To avoid being overworked, try delegating whatever you can and strive to put aside some quality personal time for yourself. It may also be wise to consider changing the practice’s hours so you can achieve a better work/life balance. 

If you’ve fallen out of love with medicine, why not talk to your peers about how they handle disengagement? To connect with other healing and wellness professionals, turn to Metro Collaborative™. Operating out of New York, NY, this health care networking group hosts peer-to-peer dinners and Caribbean retreats for practitioners across all specialties. They also offer comprehensive business coaching services for those who own a private practice. To browse upcoming events, visit their website. To reserve your space at one, call (609) 876-9163.