Quick Tips for a Successful and Happy 2010

I love the clean-slate feeling that comes with January 1st. At this turning point, I know how important it is to reflect on the past, especially the most difficult times, and allow those life lessons to serve a good purpose for the future. At the same time it is important to move forward and make the new year better than the one before. Here are five tips to guide you to that goal:

Identify Your Five Biggest Stressors
Stress is one of the biggest killers of passion, energy and performance in healthcare. Are you controlling your stress or is stress controlling your life? Identify 5 activities, routines, people, situations, or tasks that cause you stress, frustration or anxiety. Next, address each one by asking what can be done to eliminate, delegate or resolve this situation so it doesn’t continue to negatively impact you. Make a positive change.

Act from Acceptance, Courage and Wisdom
Healthcare reform, lowered reimbursements, on-call schedules, hospital administrators, quarrels with peers, staff performance – there are tons of issues that can trigger complaints, worry and frustrations. Before you let your emotions run loose again, remember: Accept the things you cannot change; have the courage to change the things you can change; and develop the wisdom to know the difference.

Show Appreciation for the People Around You
Being nice is the surest way to get what you want in the workplace, the community and at home. When we treat people well, they try to help us reach our goals. Our niceness inspires niceness in those around us, to everyone’s benefit. Niceness and appreciation can be shown through simple, heartfelt gestures like saying “thank you for …,” pointing out someone’s contributions in front of others, or presenting small gifts of recognition. Personal acknowledgements of appreciation go a long way on a day full of stress and challenges.

Invest in Yourself
Your practice and those around you, whether it is your staff, children, or even your dog, are always a reflection of you. There is also a direct connection between your personal growth and the success of your practice and career. Watch your practice grow exponentially as you personally develop. As a physician, if you’re willing to invest in your personal growth, you have the ability to overcome any obstacles life or the industry presents you.

Make Self Care a Priority
Doctors are masters of over commitment combined with a lack of self care. To take good care of your practice, you have to take good care of yourself. There’s a lot of ways you can do this: schedule a massage on a regular basis; work with a trainer who holds you accountable for your personal fitness; plan regular dates with your spouse. Define “fun,” then make a list of activities that meet this criteria, and do them. Get some downtime to get distance from work, replenish your energy, spark creativity, and reload your passion. While you’re at it, schedule a real vacation, not one that includes CME, but perhaps one that includes a golf course or the mountains. Make a commitment to your health and well-being, then everyone wins.

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• More time with family
• A promotion
• Growth in your practice
• More time for self
• Less attrition in your practice
• All of the above?

• develop clarity on your goals and an effective action plan
• control your stress in order to free up time, space and energy
• get the accountability and feedback needed to make rapid progress