Got five minutes? That’s all it takes to short-circuit your stress, at least for a while, says Peter Moskowitz, MD, executive director, Center for Professional and Personal Renewal, Palo Alto, Calif. He recommends developing a tool box of quick stress relievers. Then when you’re feeling stressed, take a five-minute timeRead More

One stressed-out physician told Deb Wood, PhD, that she began to close her office door “because people were bothering me.” While that might be a great way to find some peace and quiet, if you’re used to an open door policy at work, closing it can start up the rumorRead More

Why are you interested in this position? It’s one of the most common questions asked during the interview process, but it’s one that can stump you unless you’re prepared to answer. According to an article in The Muse, too many people make four common mistakes when answering this question thatRead More

Q: I know I could use some help dealing with stress, but I feel embarrassed to admit it. What’s holding me back? A: Doctors feel they must be self-reliant, unemotional when treating patients or in front of colleagues, and not admit they don’t know something. These characteristics are drilled intoRead More

Q: Why am I so miserable in my job? I’ve worked on work-life balance issues, but I can’t seem to find a way to a better place. A: This could be a poor job fit. Your job may not suit your personality or value set. It might have been aRead More

If you’re feeling burned out, find a career or life coach or consider accessing an employee assistance program (EAP) or employee wellness program, if available, says Peter Moskowitz, MD, career and life coach for physicians and executive director, Center for Professional and Personal Renewal, Palo Alto, Calif. While you canRead More

That annoying traffic jam isn’t causing your stress (though it isn’t making it any better). The real reasons behind your stress go much deeper. According to Peter Moskowitz, MD, executive director, Center for Professional and Personal Renewal, Palo Alto, Calif., the top stressors for physicians are lack of control inRead More

Q: We have a meditation room. Is that going to prevent burnout? A: While some healthcare organizations are beginning to recognize the problem of burnout, many are simply offering gimmicks: changing the food in the cafeteria, telling physicians to sleep and exercise more, or providing meditation rooms that no oneRead More

If you devote more than one-third of your seven-day week to work—approximately 50-55 hours—you are at risk for losing your work-life balance, setting the stage for a slide into professional burnout, says Peter Moskowitz, MD, executive director, Center for Professional and Personal Renewal, Palo Alto, Calif. To see if you’reRead More

So I have heartburn every day, tons of unused vacation time and I’m tired all the time. That can’t mean I’m burned out, right? Not true, says David Frenz, MD, medical director for mental health and addiction care at St. Joseph’s Hospital in St. Paul, Minn. “Physicians generally have poorRead More