One of the main issues I hear from my Doctor coaching clients is that their schedule is way overbooked and that there is nothing they can do about it. Their office staff continues to double book appointments or put a new patient in right before the break they have blocked off for themselves or just at the end of the day when they are supposed to leave. These are the same doctors who tell me that what would make them leap for joy is to leave on time a few days a week and actually get home early to spend some quality time with their family.
So, what's the solution? Well, first of all, there is ALWAYS a solution! That's the first thing that my doctor clients learn and embrace during the coaching process - that even though they don't know the exact HOW it is going to happen, that it is essential to believe that they could have a schedule that runs smoothly and gets them out on time.
If you are always focused on "hectic" schedule and "I'm always running late" -- of course you are going to continue to attract this exact situation again and again and again. This is what I discussed in my previous post about what you expect.
But there is another aspect that plays into the solution of an overbooked schedule of patients -- you have to set some boundaries. You teach people how to treat you and YES, that includes your staff. I have one client who always has her staff overbooking her and does this way more often to her than her partner in their medical practice. Why is that? Because she "feels bad". She wants to be able to see all her patients. She doesn't want to be stopped in her small town by a patient and be told that they couldn't get in and hear complaints on her personal time.
But here's the dilemma of putting up and tolerating with being overbooked because you will feel bad if you can't see all the patients that want to be seen => YOU ARE NOT PUTTING YOUR HAPPINESS AND BALANCE FIRST! Yes, I know ... you are a caregiver and you help other people for a living. You have other people's overall health and well-being "in your hands". However, what about YOUR overall health and well-being.
When you take care of yourself first, your patients benefit, your family benefits and most of all YOU benefit. It's a win-win for all. And those patients that can't get in -- they will get over it. Do you think that those patients will be there for you if you are going through a life crisis or have a family emergency? Does the feelings of your patients really fit into the bigger picture of your life and your path to joy?
I think NOT.
Feeling bad about not fitting in all the patients and overbooking your schedule is the worst thing you can do for your sanity, your health, your well-being. Start taking your power back and decide what type of life you really want to live. And if you want more balance in your life between your personal life and your work life, then you are going to have to REALLY DECIDE (e.g., cutting off all other options) and make a healthy work-life balance your top priority.
I had one doctor client tell me today "I want to be a regular person; a regular Mom." She also said that she wants to "not always feel rushed". It starts with choosing to focus on the way you want it to be instead of the way it is and believing that it can turn around. Start imagining having that lifestyle you really want and feel the essence of who you will be when you manifest it. Our minds are very powerful catalysts for the quality of our life experiences and once we imagine what it is we want and activate the essence of how we will feel into our present moment, it is bound to happen!
If you are looking to improve your work-life balance and would like to find out more about Life Coaching for Doctors, Click Here and let's set up a time to discuss how the process of life coaching can help you.
To YOUR Health & Happiness,
~ Coach Maria
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