Physicians Practice Magazine

Elizabeth Scott, therapist and author of an upcoming book called “8 Keys to Stress Management,” makes a living telling people how to manage stress. It’s her belief that vacations are an important outlet. “People think of vacations as unaffordable luxuries,” she says. “But considering the increased risk for health issues and burnout from chronic stress, those risks are a lot costlier than a few days away to recharge.”

Who hasn’t come to the end of the work year with a pile of vacation hours accrued? Physicians are some of the worst at breaking away. Scott says doctors face job stressors more intense than those of most other jobs; the types of stressors most related to physician burnout are high pressure, long hours, and heavy consequences for mistakes.

Phillip Hemphill, director of the Professional Enhancement Program at Pine Grove Treatment Center in Hattiesburg, Miss., echoes the fact that physicians find it tough to take time off.

“Being a physician carries a unique privilege, so part of their training itself is problematic,” he says. “It is extremely competitive, and individuals must be comfortable with making tough decisions, all while suppressing emotions. There are very high — nearly superhuman — expectations from everyone involved in a physician’s world, and it can result in self-neglect.”

Time for a timeout?

How do you know when it’s time to ditch the office for awhile?

Hemphill says there are clear signs indicating the need for a dose of time off. For example:

• Missing more deadlines

• Not managing boundaries well in terms of time, money, and work productivity

• An uptick in conflicts with coworkers, including a rising need to blame others

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