My Podcast Interview with Dr. Kevin Smith

This was such an interesting conversation with facial plastic surgeon and ENT Dr. Kevin Smith for TechLink Health! I was fascinated to learn about the link between migraines and nasal health. Dr. Smith’s journey from college athlete to cutting edge surgeon gives him a unique perspective, which he shares on the podcast.

Dr. Smith's story shows how the combination of clinical excellence, curiosity, and persistence can impact patients' lives in meaningful ways and spark new innovations.

Maximize Efficiency and Achieve Work-Life Balance: The Time Priority Matrix for Physicians

Do you ever finish the day feeling as if the time raced by, but instead of making progress on your goals, you’ve just been putting out fires?

With a constant surge of urgent issues, combined with your daily responsibilities and opportunities, it can be challenging to prioritize effectively.

Using the Time Priority Matrix can help you to visualize not only where but how you are spending your time. By categorizing your daily activities, you will discover how your attention is being directed, and where you might be able to streamline and optimize the way you use this most valuable and limited resource.

This tool is also known as the Eisenhower Matrix. Former US President Dwight D. Eisenhower didn’t create the idea, but he famously referenced Dr. Roscoe Miller, a former president of Northwestern University, when he said: "I have two kinds of problems: the urgent and the important. The urgent are not important, and the important are never urgent.”

The matrix was subsequently popularized by Stephen Covey in his landmark book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.  It’s something that’s often taught to business leaders, but the concepts can easily be applied to physicians and anyone else seeking to take back some control of time and attention.

How to Use the Time Priority Matrix

Quadrant I tasks are both urgent and important. Ideally these are limited, but as a physician, these tasks are part of daily life.

The critically ill patient, the urgent report, the call from a worried family member. Often these issues are out of your control. But sometimes there is a way to mitigate the urgency, and that's where Quadrant II comes into play.

Quadrant II: Preparation, planning, and prevention fall into Quadrant II. By working in this quadrant, you anticipate and trouble shoot before trouble arises. That's what preventive care is all about.

You can also apply this idea to your own life. For example, if you're studying for your boards, taking a set amount of time every day for a few months will get you much farther ahead than waiting until the last couple of weeks to study. And learning a new skill or technique and making the time to practice it will ensure that when you need it, you'll be more confident and prepared.

Building trusting relationships with patients and colleagues also falls into Quadrant II. By taking the time and putting in the work at the outset, you’ll build trust and confidence. Ultimately that will enhance your ability to provide care more efficiently and collaboratively.

Work in this quadrant might not always be exciting or immediately fulfilling, but it will keep you on track to accomplish the goals that are meaningful to you.

You can apply Quadrant II ideas to your personal life as well. Think about your relationships, family, and other interests. What can you do to ensure that the things that matter to you outside of work are cared for and able to flourish?

Quadrant III is more problematic. In this quadrant, you're dealing with things that are not particularly important, but which require some urgency to complete.

As a physician, you're probably all too familiar with this quadrant. Interruptions, EHR redundancies and pre-authorization inefficiencies that have to be addressed are daily if not hourly occurrences. Some meetings and much email fall into this category.

Sometimes it can help to work on these things in "chunks" so that your attention is focused and you can be more efficient. This is known as task batching, and it can be a highly effective way to clear out some of the clutter that routinely piles up. Making it clear that these non-urgent issues will only be addressed on a certain day at a given time is one way to not only set boundaries but to limit interruptions.

Delegating whenever possible is an important aspect of Quadrant III management. For example, can someone else be assigned to fill out routine paperwork, leaving only the physician-specific sections for you to complete? Perhaps staff can be empowered to respond to simple patient requests for notes or documentation, or to schedule a visit when it’s clear that a non-urgent call or message requires more than a simple response.

Quadrant IV is where you have the greatest likelihood of clearing out some time and space. Mindless scrolling, low-value emails, watching random TV shows, and stressing over social media are good examples of this quadrant's activities.

Sometimes you need a little downtime, but being cognizant of how you are spending it may help you to gain some well-earned margin for the things that matter most to you.

It can be a great thought exercise to think through the way you are using your time. The Time Priority Matrix is a valuable tool that can help you to manage your workload and your personal life more effectively. By identifying and prioritizing tasks based on urgency and importance, you’ll have a tool that can enhance your productivity, improve patient care, and help you achieve a healthier and more fulfilling work-life balance.

DISCLAIMER: As an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the website, for which I am grateful! Please do your own research before making any important decisions.

If you’ve enjoyed this article and would like to stay in the loop for more insights on creating a sustainable, fulfilling, and happy life as a physician, sign up for my newsletter or reach out on my website. I’d love to hear from you.

And if you’d like to schedule a complimentary introductory meeting with me, click the link below.

My Podcast Appearance on Dr. Bill Lombardi’s Journey to Better

It was a thrill to appear on legendary cardiologist Dr. Bill Lombardi’s podcast The Journey to Better. I was honored to be invited onto the show to discuss mindfulness, goal setting, and combating burnout.

Dr. Lombardi is one of the highest-volume operators for complex PCI and chronic total occlusions in the world. He has been open about his own struggles with well-being in this high stakes and intense field of cardiology. His episodes will resonate for cardiologists, but also for any physician who has experienced the struggles, highs, and lows of caring for patients in today’s world.

Creating Action Steps for Process Goals

In a previous article I explained the difference between outcome goals and process goals. Simply put, outcome goals are the big results you want to achieve. And process goals are the small and meaningful steps you take to achieve those larger goals. These are the actions and behaviors that are within your control.

Process goals are typically SMART goals. That means that they are

• Specific

• Measurable,

• Achievable

• Relevant

• Time-bound

So how do you get started with creating your own process goals? In this article, I’ll walk you through the process. As the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” Think of each process goal as one of those single steps.

The template I outline below is a great place to begin. Set a timer for 15 minutes, 30 minutes or an hour, and just start writing. By the time the timer stops, you’ll have created something that you can build on.

Getting Started with Process Goals

1. Get a Notebook: An analogue, hand-written journal tends to work best. That way it doesn’t get lost in the ether of your computer and your on-line life.

 2. Define Your Outcome Goal: Start with a clear understanding of what it is you want to achieve, but be comfortable with the idea that this goal might change. Your outcome goal will guide your process goals and ensure they align with your overall objective.

 3. Break It Down: Identify the smallest and most specific actions that will get you closer to your goal. These should be easily defined and actionable steps that you can incorporate into your daily or weekly routine.

 4. Make it SMART: Ensure your process goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This framework will help you stay focused and track your progress.

 5. Monitor, Reflect, and Adjust:  Review and update your notebook daily. Check off your small process goals as you achieve them, and reflect on the direction you are heading. Be open to making adjustments as needed to either stay on track or to change course.

6. Bonus Step: Create Weekly, Monthly, One Year, Three Year, and Five Year Goals. Write these down in your notebook and refer to them on a specific day every week. These larger outcome goals will often change over time, but they will help you to stay aligned with what matters most to you.

If this all seems a little theoretical, here’s an example of how this process might look.

Outcome Goal: Find a New Job

Process Goals:

• Clarify your values.

• With your values in mind, create a list of 3-5 things that matter most to you when thinking about your ideal job.

• Update your CV and LinkedIn profile to reflect your skills, experiences, interests, and values.

• Decide if there are new skills you’d need for your dream job and create a process goal plan to acquire them.

• Create a list of 3-5 places you’d like to live.

• Contact 3 colleagues in your field who might be able to help you.

• Research and attend relevant events in your specialty over the next 3-6 months to learn about opportunities and meet people who may be interested in working with you.

• Research and identify potential medical practices or institutions that align with your values and professional goals.

  • Identify people who are decision makers for the practice.

  • Check LinkedIn to see if you have any colleagues in common.

  • If so, can you be introduced? An email to your colleague can help get the wheels in motion.

  • If not, send a well-crafted email or direct message, or make a phone call to someone in the practice who might be in a position to invite you for an interview.

• Prepare for interviews by creating your personal elevator pitch

• Develop a list of potential questions you might be asked in an interview, and create a set of answers.

• Practice for interviews with a friend or coach.

Focusing on process goals rather than outcome goals can be transformative. By taking control of the actions within your reach, you’ll create a sustainable path to your own success, reduce stress, and live a life that aligns with your values and your ambitions. You’ll be able to overcome the inertia that might be holding you back, and you’re likely to find some surprises and unexpected opportunities along the way.

DISCLAIMER: As an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the website, for which I am grateful! Please do your own research before making any important decisions.

If you’ve enjoyed this article and would like to stay in the loop for more insights on creating a sustainable, fulfilling, and happy life as a physician, sign up for my newsletter or reach out on my website. I’d love to hear from you.

And if you’d like to schedule a complimentary introductory meeting with me, click the link below.

My Podcast Interview with Mastek’s Ritwik Batabyal

I enjoyed this conversation with Mastek's Ritwik Batabyal and David Sanchez, RN. It was a great reminder of how integral sophisticated behind-the-scenes technology is to providing optimal health care.

Rightfully, there is a lot of trepidation around the use of AI in healthcare and health technology, but the truth is that it’s already here. By understanding and optimizing the ways that we as physicians use AI, we will ensure that we have a say in the way it changes our landscape and the ways that care is delivered.

Perfectionism, Procrastination, and Fear of Failure

An earlier version of this article originally appeared on Doximity.com in December 2022, where I served as an Op-Med Fellow from 2022-2023.

You probably didn’t become a physician without a healthy dose of perfectionism. From preschool through residency and beyond, many of us have survived, thrived, and been rewarded for our perfectionist tendencies. And when you didn’t hit the mark? You may have felt the sting of your parents’ and teachers’ disappointment. Eventually, you may have learned to define yourself by your perfectionism.

Perfectionism seems to be on the rise, especially among people born in the 1980s and later. Those on the outside may mean well when they assure us that perfectionism is an impossible goal, but the truth is that perfectionism is a prized attribute in our profession. Our patients appreciate it as well. After all, who wants a doctor who is willing to just scrape by?

Paradoxically, perfectionism can keep you from doing your best work. It can also hold you back from living your best life. In this article, I’ll talk about how perfectionism and self criticism often go hand in hand with procrastination. And I’ll give you a few actionable steps that can help you to overcome the self-imposed inertia that perfectionism often creates.

Perfectionism, Procrastination, and Imposter Syndrome

It’s not surprising that perfectionists often suffer from impostor syndrome. If you’re a perfectionist, you may fear that you are simply not good enough and that you will eventually be exposed for all to see. And in fearing that you are not going to meet the high standards you set for yourself, you may subconsciously find ways to procrastinate as a means of avoiding that discomfort.

When you fall prey to imposter syndrome, you may overlook or give up opportunities for growth that could lead you to a more rewarding and exciting professional path. Learning new skills, taking on a leadership role, and discovering a position that is more aligned with your values may all fall by the wayside.

And when you’re uncomfortable with embracing a beginner’s mindset, you may find yourself reluctant to take up hobbies or endeavors that might enrich your life and create new connections.

Perfectionism, Procrastination, and Fear of Success

Another factor holding perfectionist physicians back is, perhaps counter-intuitively, a fear of success. This often arises from fear of change and the unknown. The end result may be the same: procrastination and a failure to act in your own best interests.

Fear of failing to meet your highest standards often manifests in such mundane activities as uncompleted charts, unanswered messages, and unopened emails. This compounds the problem, and can create enormous stress, not to mention nasty messages from administration.

Breaking the Cycle of Procrastination

If you’re having a hard time getting started on a task, big or small, don’t beat yourself up. Chastising yourself for feeling overwhelmed and disorganized may only make the procrastination problem worse by confirming your fear of inadequacy and filling you with anxiety. And thus, the problem comes full circle.

To break the cycle of fear, frustration, and despair, it’s important to recognize that procrastination does not mean that you are incapable or irresponsible. And let’s establish right now that as a busy and caring physician, you are certainly not lazy.

So how can you harness your perfectionism? The key is to focus that superpower on providing excellent patient care. Sometimes that also means treatment plans, operative notes and imaging reports. These are things that truly make a difference, and that people are depending on you to complete. They don’t have to be works of art, but they need to be complete and correct.

Often it’s the non-clinical commitments, stacks of insurance paperwork, and lingering home projects that drain your mental energy. If no one’s life or livelihood depends on it being perfect, allow yourself a little grace. Realize that for many of your routine tasks, perfection is not worth the effort and may not even be possible. For many of these, good and done is good enough. Other times, it might be most efficient to simply delegate. And sometimes, when it’s appropriate, you just have to say no.

Below, I share some practical tips for tackling a handful of competing priorities and getting stuff done.

1. Medical documentation

We’ll address the elephant in the room first: your medical charts. As charts start to pile up and paperwork is left unfinished, your anxiety levels may rise, and you may find yourself in a spiral of regret and self-flagellation. If you have a system that works for you, kudos and keep it up.

But for the many physicians for whom the EHR and report generation are a major source of stress and procrastination anxiety, it’s important to get a handle on this beast as early as possible in your medical career. Just get the charts and notes done, either immediately during or after the visit (my preference) or at the end of the session.

The fewer times you have to return to a document, the more focused and efficient you will be.

Yes, the notes need to be succinct, truthful, and useful. And personally, I always found that including a brief personal observation reminded me of the issues that were meaningful to my patients when we met the next time. But your notes do not have to be perfectly crafted works of literature. Punctuation, spelling, even virtual voice transcription errors that don’t change the meaning of the sentence can often be safely overlooked.

Consider using “smart phrases” — text blocks that you use frequently that can be automated through your EHR system — as much as possible when appropriate. Look into using an AI assistant for history taking, if you can assure accuracy. The point is not to be sloppy or incomplete, but to include the pertinent details that assure great patient care and communication as efficiently as possible.

To avoid a horrendous backlog, create a block of time once or twice each day to get patient communication, testing review, insurance, and other paperwork done. This is known as task batching. Do it consistently every day (perhaps using the Pomodoro method), and even though you may not finish everything all at once, you’ll have a process for getting it done. Once you start seeing the results of your efforts, your feeling of self-efficacy will increase.

Let your staff know that you will be working on these tasks within these blocks of time. That way you can set expectations and encourage them to direct pertinent issues to you at a time that works best for you. Ultimately, this may create a clearer sense of work flow within the practice and enhance your teamwork.

2. Professional Commitments

When it comes to committees, research, and other professional commitments, take a good long look at what you’ve signed up for. Be sure that the work is meaningful and actionable for you.

Sometimes taking on more responsibilities is the right thing for your professional growth or your career trajectory. If so, it’s important to stay committed. Procrastinating on these commitments can have a seriously negative impact on your future opportunities.

Consider working with an accountability partner who is on the same committee or working on the same project. You can keep each other on task with quick check-ins by text. Simply committing to a plan can often get you halfway there.

But if you find that you just have a hard time saying no, then it’s time to reassess. As writer and time management guru Oliver Burkeman so aptly puts it, if we’re lucky, we only have Four Thousand Weeks. That means that time is a fixed resource. When you say yes to something, you are saying no to something else.

If your commitments exceed your capacity, you will never get everything done. Choose wisely. And remember that saying no doesn’t mean never or not at all. Is there a way to stay involved with something meaningful without diving all the way in?

3. Your Personal Life

Having a life outside of the clinic or hospital helps you to decompress, stretches your brain, and keeps you connected to the outside world. When it comes to family and close friends, your time and attention matter. And of course regular exercise is critical for just about every aspect of your health.

Unlike taking care of patients, the bar is fairly low. Usually no one is depending on you to be the best. Just being present and engaged is often enough. For your home projects, exercise, and other extracurriculars, consider using a Bullet Journal or other daily log.

Experiment with using a real notebook rather than an app. Not only does writing something down tend to create more solid memory retention, it’s easy for virtual to-do lists to disappear into the ether of the internet, never to be seen again. Most importantly, choose what works best for you, and be consistent.

To get started with something new, commit to just five to 10 minutes a few times a week, or set up an introductory lesson for something that interests you. You’ll be surprised how much you can do, and it may motivate you to keep going. If you’re not perfect, all the better. You’ll learn and grow and maybe even find new life passions.

Procrastination and Self Compassion

If you’re a chronic procrastinator, developing self-compassion is important. But being kind to yourself doesn’t mean you can ignore the pressing problems that procrastination has created. That will only add to your stress, and create more trouble in the long run.

When you put off completing charts or making calls, procrastinating can also hurt your patients and your practice. In the worst cases, medical care may be delayed and important notifications missed, with possibly serious ramifications for the people who depend on you.

If the load feels overwhelming, realize that procrastination-born perfectionism can lead to important mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. Get help from a mental health professional if you need it. And if you are questioning your efforts, your direction, or experiencing burnout, consider meeting with a physician coach.

Remember: your perfectionism is one of your superpowers as a physician. You have high standards, you solve tough problems, and you keep people safe. Leverage this, cherish it, but don’t let it take you down the road of procrastination.

DISCLAIMER: As an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the website, for which I am grateful! Please do your own research before making any important decisions.

If you’ve enjoyed this article and would like to stay in the loop for more insights on creating a sustainable, fulfilling, and happy life as a physician, sign up for my newsletter or reach out on my website. I’d love to hear from you.

And if you’d like to schedule a complimentary introductory meeting with me, click the link below.

Mapping Out Your Future: The Power of Process Goals Over Outcome Goals

If you’re a doctor, you’re used to reaching goals. But often those goals are ones that have been chosen for you, or that follow a well-worn template. When it comes to creating and achieving your own personal and meaningful goals, it’s common to feel stuck and uncertain how to move forward with purpose. That’s where process goals come into play.

When the future you envision seems unattainable, it’s possible that the type of goal you’ve chosen is the sticking point. Whether it's landing a new job or position, getting control of your time and energy, achieving a financial milestone, or even taking a dream vacation, the focus is often on the end result. And that can sometimes feel like a heavy lift.

To be clear, it’s important to have an end in mind. However, what if I told you that shifting your focus from the outcome to the process could be the key to your success?

In this article I’ll show you the difference between outcome goals and process goals. I’ll give you some easy-to-understand examples of how this can work for you. And I’ll give you some steps that you can start working on today.

Understanding Outcome Goals vs. Process Goals

Outcome goals are the big results you want to achieve. While these goals provide direction and motivation, they are often beyond your direct control due to a variety of external factors. These might include outside competition, unexpected obstacles, lack of time, and your other obligations. Sometimes the problem is simply a lack of specificity.

Process goals are the steps you take to achieve your outcome goals. They focus on the actions and behaviors that are well within your control.

Process goals are:

• Shorter term (usually less than a week)

• Concrete and realistic       

• Very specific

• Trackable and measurable

• Modifiable

• In alignment with your values

In short, process goals are often SMART goals. For instance, a process goal might be to exercise for 30 minutes a day, enroll in a leadership development course, send one email to request a letter of recommendation weekly for three weeks, or practice the guitar for an hour each week.

When you focus on process goals, you maintain control over your progress, making adjustments as needed, without the pressure of an immediate big and important outcome.

Process goals lead towards an outcome, even though that outcome is not always guaranteed. This is the way you break down a goal that seems unattainable or even audacious and create your own roadmap. In truth, you may not get where you expect to go, but you’ll get somewhere. And you’ll open up more possibilities along the way. Sometimes those other possibilities become the new outcome goal.

The Benefits of Focusing on Process Goals

1. Consistency and Habits: Process goals encourage you to develop consistent habits. By committing to daily or weekly actions, no matter how small, you’ll build a routine that supports long-term progress.

2. Flexibility: Unlike outcome goals, which can be rigid and unforgiving, process goals allow for flexibility. If one approach isn't working, you can modify your actions without feeling like you've failed. Changing direction is a normal and exciting part of the process goal method. By creating small process steps, you’re allowing yourself to experiment with small stakes outcomes.

3. Reduced Stress: Shifting your focus from the end result to the journey reduces stress and anxiety. You’ll become more engaged in the present moment, finding a sense of satisfaction in the process itself. And you’ll feel more in control.

4. Enhanced Motivation: Achieving small, manageable goals boosts your motivation and confidence. You’ll be able to track your accomplishments as they happen. Each step forward serves to reinforce your commitment and gradually drive more progress. Sometimes this is referred to as a “fly wheel”. It may take some effort to get the process rolling, but eventually you’ll gain momentum and achieving your goals will become easier.

For more about SMART goals, check out my recent article here. To learn more about how to create action steps to achieve your process goals, see this article. In addition to providing a template to help you get started, the article gives you a practical breakdown of the way this process might work for someone who is seeking a new job or position.

If you’ve enjoyed this article and would like to stay in the loop for more insights on creating a sustainable, fulfilling, and happy life as a physician, sign up for my newsletter or reach out on my website. I’d love to hear from you.

And if you’d like to schedule a complimentary introductory meeting with me, click the link below.

TechLink Health Podcast on Heart Smart Mindfulness

I often host the TechLink Health podcast, a show devoted to exploring the gamut of new technologies and innovations in health care. I began this journey as a guest on the podcast in 2022. The interview went so well that I was subsequently invited to host.

It’s been a lot of fun, and I always learn so much from our guests. My experience is a great example of what can happen when you take chances and say yes to opportunities that align with your purpose, even when you don’t know exactly what will happen next.

This week I’m re-sharing my first episode. The conversation ranges from insights on maintaining heart health with a busy lifestyle to the role of mindfulness on outcomes in healthcare, and the importance of addressing issues that lead to burnout in physicians and others. We also discussed the ways a creative practice can help physicians and others in healthcare.

If you’re interested in accessing some of the resources we discussed, I’ve linked to them below.

📗 The Bullet Journal Method

📙 Real Change

📲 Insight Timer: The #1 free app for sleep, anxiety and stress

📲 The Waking Up App

📲 Headspace

📲 Calm

📲 Yoga: Down Dog

A version of this article originally appeared on this website in November, 2022

DISCLAIMER: As an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the website, for which I am grateful! Please do your own research before making any important decisions.

If you’ve enjoyed this article and would like to stay in the loop for more insights on creating a sustainable, fulfilling, and happy life as a physician, sign up for my newsletter or reach out on my website. I’d love to hear from you.

And if you’d like to schedule a complimentary introductory meeting with me, click the link below.

Define Your Values to Create Your Ideal Life a Physician

Your values are integral to your identity. They are a very personal and multifaceted set of foundational qualities that have the power to provide a guiding light, leading you towards a life that feels in harmony with your true and ideal self. While they are a fundamental aspect of the complex person that you are, external pressures, social circumstances, and even inertia mean that it’s common to live out of sync with your values. But once you give your values a name, the way forward becomes far more clear.

Most of the time we can distill our core values into a set of five or six concepts that give our life meaning and purpose. In this article I’ll guide you through a simple exercise that can help you to get clarity on your own values. From there, you may begin to see patterns of alignment, or perhaps misalignment, in your life.

Through this process of awareness, you’ll find that your decisions become more clear. You’ll begin to feel the confidence to say “yes” to the opportunities that serve your higher purpose. You’ll find a way to energetically reach towards the next foothold, even when it’s challenging. And you’ll feel more certain when you say “no” to those choices that are not the right fit.

First, Define Your Values

The first step is to define your values. This might seem a little contrived, because you may feel as if you know yourself well enough to understand what matters to you. But putting a name to your values, and seeing them written out in black and white, can be surprisingly enlightening. For the purposes of this exercise, a value is a single word that encompasses an idea or belief in a certain way of being in the world. I’ve created a list of values for you to get started with. You can find them here.

Go through the list and circle the values that speak most strongly to you. Don’t overthink it. Your values may change over time, and that’s completely normal. There are no right or wrong, or good or bad, answers.

Once you have circled your top values, write them out. Take a good look at what you have written and see if you can narrow them down into five groups. From there, discover what themes emerge. These are your core values.

Next, Put Your Values into Action

Now, thinking about your core values, consider how you might choose to elevate these values in your daily life. Don’t try to make sweeping changes. Instead, think of small actions or choices that might more completely align your values with your life.

If there is a big disconnect between your values and your life, it might be time to reconsider your path. It is often challenging to get a handle on these ideas and put them into practice. If so, a physician coach can be a great ally. Through coaching, you will generate greater self-awareness and discover options and opportunities that more completely align with your unique set of values.

If you’re not ready for coaching, but want some clarity, consider downloading my free Values Workbook. It’s free when you sign up for my newsletter.

An earlier version of this article appeared on this website in January , 2023.

If you’ve enjoyed this article and would like to stay in the loop for more insights on creating a sustainable, fulfilling, and happy life as a physician, sign up for my newsletter or reach out on my website. I’d love to hear from you.

And if you’d like to schedule a complimentary introductory meeting with me, click the link below.

Setting SMART Goals: A Guide for Physicians

If you’re a physician, you’re no stranger to goal setting. You wouldn’t have gotten to where you are now without setting some very specific and actionable goals.

But once you’ve made it through your training, landed a position in your specialty, and begun the process of living your own life, your goal setting muscle may have atrophied a little. What’s more, no matter where you are now and where you might want to be in the future, there’s no longer a prescribed set of steps to get you there.

If you seek growth or change, creating the map is up to you. Unlike the well-worn trail you may have followed in the past, the direction you will take is based on your own unique talents, interests, and visions. As Joseph Campbell warned, in his book The Power of Myth, “If the path before you is clear, you're probably on someone else's.” And starting this adventure begins with setting goals.

Choosing, planning, and carrying out your own goals can feel daunting. Whether professional, financial, personal, physical, or even spiritual, it can all seem like a lot. Where to start? And what can you expect along the way? As with so many other life skills, it’s likely that no one ever taught you how to set goals.

Fortunately, there’s a template that you can follow that breaks the goal-setting process down into clear and accessible parts. Innovators and movers in the business world have been using this tool for years, and it’s something that can work for physicians as well. In this article, I’ll walk you through the process of setting SMART goals that matter to you.

Defining and setting your goals will pave the way for your ultimate success. For instance, a study of medical students undergoing a surgical clerkship found that those who set clear and specific skill-related goals were more likely to get the outcomes they desired than those who just hoped for the best.  And goal setting may also reduce your cognitive load, meaning that you have exert less mental effort to get the work done.

Writing out your goals by hand is more likely to ensure that you stick to the process compared to typing them into a document or entering them into an app.

Give yourself an uninterrupted stretch of time to really think through the goals that you want to set, and the outcomes you hope to achieve. And then map it out using the SMART template. You may be surprised by what you’re able to achieve, and by what you discover about yourself along the way.

Specific

Get as specific as possible about your goal. As author Jack Canfield puts it, “vague goals produce vague results.”   Define your goal clearly and succinctly. It should be something that you can describe in one to two sentences.  

To make it clearer and more engaging, phrase your goal in positive terminology.  This has the added benefit of making it more likely that you’ll get it done. For example, instead of deciding you want to get out of an unhappy work environment, you might reframe this to a desire to get into a more fulfilling position.

Measurable

You should be able to objectively track your progress, whether that’s a checklist, a habit tracker, a set of numbers, or anything else that gives you a way to measure your efforts towards the goal.

Achievable

Choosing a realistic goal that is within your control is important, since you want to set yourself up for success. Choose a goal that requires a moderate stretch, but that you know is achievable.

The magic of the process is that once you reach that goal, other possibilities that are currently out of reach may open up. In the words of writer Joseph Campbell, “Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls.”

Relevant

Get in touch with your core values and ask yourself how this goal aligns with your personal vision. The goal should matter to you, not just to your friends, family, or administrators. It’s great if the goal will make everyone happy, but if it’s not your own, you’ll be less likely to commit to it.

Time-Bound

Unless you set a deadline, or a series of deadlines, you may find it hard to get started. That’s just human nature. When you set and commit to a target date, you’ll be more likely to bring your goal to fruition.

Once you’ve identified your goal, break it down into “micro goals” that you can complete within a very short period of time. This progress of completing will help propel you forward, keeping the momentum going.

Don’t forget to celebrate your wins, even the small ones. Calling a friend, going out for dinner, savoring a cookie, listening to music, or even taking a walk are all ways to honor the effort that you’re putting into the process.

Goal setting is naturally tied to effective use of your time. Looking at a big goal can seem daunting, but simply devoting ten to fifteen minutes several days per week can move you forward.

If you struggle with time management, I have a number of articles available on the website that may be helpful. They focus on issues that are specifically relevant to physicians and medical practice. If you’re looking for more guidance, my Four Week Focus Shift course is a self-guided way to find focus for the goals that matter. I also offer 3 and 6 month Time Management coaching packages for physicians.

DISCLAIMER: As an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the website, for which I am grateful! Please do your own research before making any important decisions.

If you’ve enjoyed this article and would like to stay in the loop for more insights on creating a sustainable, fulfilling, and happy life as a physician, sign up for my newsletter or reach out on my website. I’d love to hear from you.

And if you’d like to schedule a complimentary introductory meeting with me, click the link below.

References

Campbell, J., & Moyers, B. (2011). The Power of Myth. Anchor.

Doran, G.T. (1981) There’s a SMART Way to Write Management’s Goals and Objectives. Journal of Management Review, 70, 35-36.

Etkin, J. (2019). Time in relation to goals. Current Opinion in Psychology, 26, 32–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2018.04.013

Gardner, A. K., Diesen, D. L., Hogg, D. C., & Huerta, S. (2016). The impact of goal setting and goal orientation on performance during a clerkship surgical skills training program. ˜the œAmerican Journal of Surgery, 211(2), 321–325. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2015.07.028

Locke, Edwin & Latham, Gary. (2002). Building a Practically Useful Theory of Goal Setting and Task Motivation: A 35Year Odyssey. American Psychologist. 57. 705-717. 10.1037/0003-066X.57.9.705.

Nebel, S., Schneider, S., Schledjewski, J., & Rey, G. D. (2016). Goal-Setting in educational video games. Simulation & Gaming, 48(1), 98–130. https://doi.org/10.1177/1046878116680869

Oscarsson M, Carlbring P, Andersson G, Rozental A. A large-scale experiment on New Year's resolutions: Approach-oriented goals are more successful than avoidance-oriented goals. PLoS One. 2020 Dec 9;15(12):e0234097. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234097. PMID: 33296385; PMCID: PMC7725288.

Van Der Weel, F. R., & Van Der Meer, A. L. H. (2024). Handwriting but not typewriting leads to widespread brain connectivity: a high-density EEG study with implications for the classroom. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1219945

My Podcast Interview with Digital Diagnostic’s John Bertrand

Artificial intelligence is making its way into healthcare at a rapid pace. By harnessing its benefits while at the same time recognizing its limitations, we have an opportunity to improve and expand access to care for a wide range of people.

This was a thought-provoking podcast conversation with John Bertrand of Digital Diagnostics about the practical and potentially life-changing uses of AI for early detection of diabetic retinopathy. The beauty of the process is the fact that it can be used virtually anywhere, and does not require a highly skilled technician to acquire the data.

My Podcast Interview with AI Pioneer Dennis Cogan of Caresyntax

It’s no secret that artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming a powerful tool in healthcare and medical science.

As a TechLink Insights podcast host, I enjoyed this very forward-thinking and inspiring conversation with Dennis Kogan of Caresyntax, a company pioneering the use of AI in surgical practice.

It’s normal to feel uneasy about these new technologies. But AI is already here, and it’s up to physicians and others in healthcare to guide its implementation and develop reasonable safety rails to protect our patients. Having met with a number of pioneers in this space through the podcast, I believe that the future looks bright for innovations in care when AI is applied thoughtfully and collaboratively.

My Podcast Interview with Tax Expert Alexis Gallati, MBA

I really enjoyed my conversation with Alexis Gallati, EA, MBA, MS Tax, CTS for TechLink Health. This was such a practical and well explained deep dive into tax strategies for physicians.

Alexis is married to a surgeon, so she has seen firsthand how little education most of us have in financial strategies, and how this lack of knowledge can hurt us and leave us vulnerable to bad advice.

This podcast addressed financial strategies related to side gigs, managing independent practices and more. Alexis is an engaging speaker and shares a wealth of practical insight.

My Podcast Interview with Health Tech Expert Shanil Ebrahim

Shanil Ebrahim is on the cutting edge of healthcare technology, with expertise not only as a scientist but also with meaningful experience in the fields of AI and health equity. His insights are timely and thought provoking.

As a frequent host of the TechLink Health podcast, it's always such a pleasure and a privilege to meet with leading innovators in the health and tech space. The industry is moving at warp speed, and it's great to have a front row seat!

You can listen to the podcast at TechLink Health as well as Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

My Podcast Appearance with Kevin MD on Meditation and Mindfulness

I enjoyed my recent conversation with Kevin Pho, M.D. We discussed how mindfulness can have far-reaching effects not only for yourself, but for those you care for. We also discussed the best times for meditation, when you might want to avoid it, and how a brief meditation can impact your sense of well-being.

As a physician coach, I love sharing this story, because it encapsulates how such a simple and brief practice can have a meaningful impact.

Despite often heavy-handed corporate efforts to the contrary, mindfulness is not a bandaid to fix all that is wrong with healthcare. And it’s not a substitute for the meaningful change that is so desperately needed. Instead, it’s a reminder to be present and engage with what is happening right now, without judgement or reactivity.

Through mindfulness, you are can find a way to take a moment in the middle of the daily storm to re-center and reset. And for physicians, that can go a long way towards building stronger relationships with patients and staff based on trust and respect.

My Podcast Interview with Grenville Thynne of Neuroflex

I recently had a fascinating conversation with Grenville Thynne for the Techlink Health Podcast. We discussed his work with the trailblazing Neuroflex company. Neuroflex’s portable technology can quickly detect evidence of concussion on site, which makes it especially valuable to athletes of all types.

The technology is also being studied in aging and neurodevelopmental disorders, and has the ability to provide objective measurements of brain function that can be tracked over time.

This was one of my favorite podcasts of the year. I hope you enjoy it.

My Podcast Interview with Phage Therapy Research Scientist Dr. Jennifer Sacher

It was such a pleasure to interview Dr. Jessica Sacher for the Techlink Health Podcast.

We discussed her fascinating work using phage therapy to defeat superbugs, and how she got started in the field.

We also had a great conversation about the personal aspects of this work, and how she has adapted her laboratory process to meet the growing need for phage therapy.

This interview is a great reminder of all the people whose work contributes to saving lives and furthering the progress of medical science.

Jessica’s passion for her work shines through in this interview. I hope you enjoy it!

My Podcast Interview with Dr. Keith Matheny, Medical Entrepreneur

It was a real treat to have the opportunity to interview Dr. Keith Matheny for the TechLink Health podcast. As a colleague and fellow Vanderbilt alumni, I was especially interested to hear his story and discover how he designed an innovative and physician-driven approach to challenges in the Ear Nose and Throat specialty.

Keith is a fantastic clinician and an inspiring entrepreneur, and I think you’ll enjoy our conversation.

Check out the podcast here, or you can listen on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or on the TechLink Health website or app.

Navigating Burnout: My Podcast Appearance on KevinMD

If you’re a physician, or anyone active in healthcare today, you have probably heard of Dr. Kevin Pho and his KevinMD podcast and website.

Kevin posts interviews and articles daily, and I was thrilled to be a recent guest. In the episode, we discussed the burnout epidemic, and why it’s not the same as compassion fatigue.

Burnout is a symptom of a system that is not working for you. In many ways, it’s a form of grief. It’s not your fault. But that doesn’t mean there’s no way out. In the interview, I went over actionable steps you can take to improve your life as a physician and to combat the effects of today’s stressful environment.

My August interview with Dr. Kevin Pho on the KevinMD podcast.

My Podcast Interview With Dr. Cliff Han of AllerPops

I recently had the opportunity to interview Dr. Cliff Shunsheng Han for the Techlink Health podcast. Dr. Han is a physician, a medical researcher with the Human Genome Project, and the creator of AllerPops, an innovative product designed to help fight the seasonal allergies that plague so many of us.

An allergy sufferer himself, when medications failed to get his problem under control, Dr. Han decided to look beyond the traditional factors that contribute to allergies. he was also motivated by the allergies suffered by his young son. That led him to explore the idea of prebiotics and the importance of a healthy oral microbiome.

Dr. Han is a wonderful example of a physician who followed a nontraditional pathway. Although he trained and practiced as a doctor in China, he has worked as a research scientist since coming to the US over 20 years ago. He shares more about his story on the podcast and in his book, Nothing to Sneeze At.

But once a physician, always a physician. Through his curiosity and resilience, Dr. Han has created something completely new with AllerPops. The science is still in the early stages, but the testimonials on his website are inspiring.

As a disclosure, I will note that Dr. Han has kindly offered to supply me with a sample kit of Allerpops. As a nearly year-round allergy sufferer, I am really looking forward to giving them a try.

Listen to my podcast interview with Dr. Cliff Han, co-hosted with David Sanchez, RN.

If you’ve enjoyed this article and would like to stay in the loop for more insights on creating a sustainable, fulfilling, and happy life as a physician, sign up for my newsletter or reach out on my website. I’d love to hear from you.

This post contains Amazon affiliate links. I may earn a small commission when you click on the links, at no additional cost to you. These commissions help to support the website.

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As a physician coach, I can work with you to explore what’s possible and create a plan that aligns with your personal values and aspirations. Schedule your exploratory conversation with me by clicking the button below.