Jeff Davidson

February is a short month, both in the number of calendar days, and in the length of the days themselves. During this time, it’s easy to stray from what would make us more productive, vibrant, fit, and effective.


Because the days grow dark shortly after 6 p.m. in most places, too many people believe that eating early, watching more TV, not getting exercise, and not maintaining a healthy balance of activities is okay. After all, the day is done quickly, so why bother to maintain some semblance of work life balance?

Here are four ways that physicians can treat February the same as any other month in terms of maintaining an effective work life balance:

4 Tips to survive February

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With only 28 days, February is a short month but it can still add to physician burnout.


Because the days grow dark shortly after 6 p.m. in most places, too many people believe that eating early, watching more TV, not getting exercise, and not maintaining a healthy balance of activities is okay. After all, the day is done quickly, so why bother to maintain some semblance of work life balance?

Here are four ways that physicians can treat February the same as any other month in terms of maintaining an effective work life balance:

1. Plan to exercise several times a week, even going so far as scheduling the activities on your personal as well as professional calendar. When an activity is scheduled, it tends to occur, much more so than a vague notion that you will hit the gym, or take a long walk when you get home.

2. For at least two weekends per month, if not three or four, involve yourself in some wholesome, rewarding, outdoor activity – yes, in February. Even if your area is covered in snow, it is as good a time as any to enjoy the great outdoors. Winter holds fascination for many people: How do birds survive? Where do the squirrels go? Take advantage of your own neighborhood, town, and community. Walk the trails, visit the parks, and take in the nearby surroundings.

3. Involve others in your quest to maintain work life balance. “The more the merrier” is a relevant axiom when it comes to leisure activities, exercise, and getting out and about. When you have a partner – a family member or a friend to accompany you – you tend to do more, stay out longer, and derive more from your day

4. At work, ensure the you take a few strategic minutes here and there to walk down the hall, perhaps leave the building, and stroll about. Or, do whatever it takes to stay limber. Perhaps close your door and do some stretches. You will feel like a new person, and it won't even take you more than 60 to 90 seconds.


Jeff Davidson is "The Work-Life Balance Expert®" and a thought leader on work-life balance issues. He speaks to organizations that seek to enhance their overall productivity by improving the work-life balance of their people. Visit 

Articles

4 Ways to stay focused and balanced in a short month

Individuals who control aspects of their environment may actually be able to perform better in fast-paced and stressful situations as well as more easily recover from that performance.

As physicians and other healthcare professionals face those types of situations every day, finding ways to de-stress and recharge before, during, and after work is vital.

Here are four ways to take control of your immediate environment when you have the option to do so.

How to Take Control of Your Immediate Environment

Having mastery over your immediate environment, especially during break time or during off-hours, yields greater peace of mind and makes you more productive when back on the job.

How to take control of your immediate environment

Interruptions occur all day, but over the past few years, have you found yourself being interrupted with greater frequency?

We’ve all experienced it. Interruptions are now the chief impediment for doctors and medical office staff when it comes to getting things done. Worse still, interruptions are on the rise!

While some people are hired specifically to deal with interruptions –– receptionists come to mind –– most other people have more control over their schedules, when they ought to be available, and when they prefer not to be.

To do your best work often requires being able to give your complete and undivided attention to the task at hand, not only being free of interruptions, but knowing in advance that you will not be interrupted. The notion that you might be interrupted during a given task might not only impede your productivity, but also might keep you from beginning in the first place.

The most productive members of society, in one way or another, gravitate toward the idea that they must safeguard their work environments and determine in advance how and when they can be reached. These highly productive individuals recognize that working in the face of constant interruptions takes a toll. The loss of focus and concentration, as well as overall productivity, is simply not worth it.

What do the highly productive among us do to stay productive, keep interruptions at bay, and still remain in the communications loop?

Five ways physicians can minimize interruptions

Interruptions are a chief impediment for doctors and medical office staff when it comes to getting things done. Here's how to deal with them.

You are a productivity machine, tackling all kinds of tasks during the day. In many respects, you've exceeded your own expectations when it comes to fulfilling the responsibilities of your position. What's more, others recognize your contribution, and you're glad that they do. How often, though, have you taken care of smaller items related to your health and well-being to ensure that you can continue to be a high-performing professional?

If it's been a while since you have stopped to consider what you need to have in place to keep you-the productivity machine-in top condition, here are some suggestions to put into practice:

If it turns out that everything is A-OK, fantastic. If you nip some potential problem in the bud, way to go! Depending on the particulars of your physiology, once you’ve passed a certain age, you undoubtedly know the value of having a regular checkup.

What do you eat, and when? Do certain food or meal times make you feel better or worse? Similar to a regular health checkup, a nutritional assessment on a periodic basis can give you vital information regarding your potential long-term health and well-being. 

Are you getting a fair amount of physical activity on a regular basis? You've undoubtedly heard the axiom about walking 10,000 steps a day. For many people, that equals a vigorous, one-hour walk. Fortunately, it doesn't all have to be done at the same time. If you have four to five opportunities throughout the day to walk for 10 to 15 minutes, it all adds up.

You don't have to exercise every single day.  For most people, three to four times a week will do, and the workouts can be divided up as two times at the gym and two times with home exercise equipment or walking vigorously. The great news about exercise is that the rewards come almost immediately.

You need to have time for a life after work. If you're staying too late, too often, it can diminish your overall capabilities and your enthusiasm for the job itself. Make it a habit of doing today's work today and departing at a reasonable hour. That is your best strategy for long-term effectiveness.

Here's how to ensure that you can continue to be a high-performing professional.

Four ways to maintain productivity

Consider the big picture of your career and your life. What is the most precious element that of which you cannot make more?

You guessed it: it’s time-the currency of our careers and our lives. Here are four ways to use it wisely:

1) Identify tasks that you do not need to do because someone else can handle them. 

At work, this is called delegation. In your personal life, this could involve hiring part-time help. Whether it’s assembling items, undertaking basic research at work, or mowing the grass or maintaining the yard at home, it’s can be to your benefit to have someone else help out.  

The above is true even if you spend your own dollars for domestic tasks. Why? You’ll hardly miss the money over time, but you’ll be able to effectively “extend your life” because your time will not be tied up in the tasks you do not need to personally handle.

2) Recognize that many of your behaviors and habits can drain time. 

Do you scroll on your phone for an extra five or 10 minutes before going to bed or before starting your day? How long do you spend hunting for a show or movie that looks interesting? Examine your behaviors that are not all that rewarding because of how they infringe upon your time in the long run.

3) Assemble the resources you need to effectively complete the tasks you need to personally handle. 

If you’ve been contemplating whether or not to buy a particular device and the cash outlay is not significant, it probably makes sense for you to go ahead and acquire the device. 

What habits, past times, rituals, and behaviors can you abandon forever, knowing that they do not serve you well? I have dropped watching many sports on TV because I realized the payoff is insufficient for the time invested. I’m not saying to abandon the things that bring you enjoyment, but with all the interests that we pursue over the years, at least a number of activities can safely be dropped. I’ve done it, you can do it, and you can immediately benefit.

Time is the currency of our careers and our lives. Here are four ways to use it wisely.