Rediscovering Joy At Work

For many physicians, joy and work do not coexist. You did not plan to be miserable doing your job. The reality of the job is not what you anticipated it to be. You spend more time feeling frustrated, angry and burned out than experiencing a glimmer of joy.

Why are you working where you are working then?

That is the exact question you want to ask yourself. Why did you choose to start this job? What brings you joy at work? Be very clear on what your heart’s desire is.

Now that you are clear on the reason you choose your job and what brings you joy, what is stopping you from experiencing the joy? What is the obstacle? As I shared in another blog, if you are operating in survival mode, nothing you do can bring you joy. You also do not have the capacity to think about what you can do to feel more pleasant – all you want is not to drown in the sea of overwhelm and chaos.

When there is a discrepancy between what you enjoy and what the job brings you, it is difficult to enjoy what you are doing.

The very first thing to do is to get out of survival mode. As a physician, you are most likely faced with work which consists of things you enjoy doing and things you would rather avoid at all costs. Examine your work – the things you do not enjoy doing – is it possible to skip them, or delegate them? If the answer is yes, go for it. If it is something you cannot skip or delegate, ask yourself what you can do to make it better. What can you do to make it more neutral or pleasant?

Attitude changes everything. It is always important to be curious and open-minded, so that you are ready to explore different possibilities. When you are curious, your brain will come up with more solutions. You will see things in different perspectives. You are more likely to think outside the box. I believe that being curious go along with being light-hearted. It is okay not to take certain things too seriously. When you are too serious about something, it is as if you are carrying a heavy burden on your shoulders – it is hard for you to move forward. It is hard for you to turn your head and look around. You will miss the scenery and the beauty around you.

Now that you are clear on why you choose your job and what is keeping you from enjoying it, have the right attitude to face it. This is all built on the premise that you are not in survival mode – get out of it if you are. Remember your goal. Your goal may be slightly different from your why. For example, my Why as a physician is to help people, to create meaningful relationships with people. My goal is to take great care of patients (that includes building relationships with them) and leave work on time.

Be clear on what you heart is after while keep in mind not to put yourself in survival mode. That is why rest is important. Take small breaks throughout the day to refresh and recharge. You want a job that lifts you up, builds up other people and does not run you to the ground. Besides scheduling for breaks throughout the day, schedule for vacations. Take time out to completely stay away from your job. Spend time with your family and friends. Make time to do something you enjoy.

It is possible to rediscover joy at work. Remember why you started your job. What is stopping you from enjoying it? Are you in survival mode and are you barely getting by? Be curious and light-hearted to approach your work. Remember what your goal is. Rest is vital to your well-being, which includes breaks throughout your day and vacation time to detach yourself from work. Make sure you schedule time to do something you enjoy every day. You will get to experience more joy. You will make a bigger impact with patient care. You will have better relationships with you family.