Should You Leave Medicine? Advice from a Physician Burnout Coach

Thoughts on the question,

“Should I stay or should I go?”

If you’re smack dab in the middle of burnout right now, you may feel trapped.

You may be thinking of escape.

You’ve dedicated a significant portion of your life’s time and energy to achieve what you have and get where you are. If you’re a physician, we could literally be talking about a dozen or more years of training. That’s big. It’s an investment not to be taken lightly or tossed aside.

At the same time, staying in a situation in which you feel devalued, demoralized, and used isn’t a great game plan, either.

If Burnout Has You Thinking About Leaving Healthcare, Consider This….

There’s a wonderful metaphor that can be applied to burnout. It can help give perspective if you’re considering cutting ties with medicine. It goes like this:

“Never cut a tree down in winter.”

What does a tree have to do with your medical career?

You don’t want to make big decisions when you’re exhausted, worn down, and resentful. You don’t want to leave when the situation is at its most bleak.

Just like a springtime tree can become lush with foliage after looking lifeless in the winter, it’s possible you may feel differently about your career on the other side of burnout.

So, now what?

Here Are 3 Questions to Consider When You’re Thinking of Leaving Medicine

HOW DID I FEEL ABOUT MEDICINE BEFORE BURNOUT?

Just like any relationship, people fall in and out of love for different reasons.

If your dissatisfaction with your medical career is more recent, thoughts of transitioning out of healthcare may be coming from a reactionary place. This feels terrible and you want it to stop.  

On the other hand, if there was always a lingering doubt as to whether medicine was right for you, that’s a different story.

Consider whether your thoughts of leaving are coming from a place of “I don’t want to do this anymore,” versus, “I’ve often thought I wanted to do something different.”

It may seem subtle, but there is a big difference between being repelled by your current situation and being attracted or pulled toward something else.

WHAT ROLE DOES MY CAREER PLAY IN MY LIFE?

Some people want to be passionate about their career. I suppose that’s where the saying, “Love what you do and you’ll never work another day in your life,” comes from.

Others are OK with having a job that provides them with resources to follow their passion. They may not be completely fulfilled by their work, but that’s OK because it allows them to chase after other dreams.  

This can make a difference when it comes to expectations and how you want to feel inside your role as a physician and healthcare provider.

WHAT’S IN MY CONTROL?

Again, here’s another place where expectation can greatly affect your satisfaction.

Autonomy is essential for some, and others are happier with less independence if it means fewer obligations and responsibilities.

Neither is good or bad, you just have to know what you want.

From there, it’s important to figure out how much control you have over your day-to-day. It helps you figure out how much flexibility you have to play with as you tend to your specific needs. This is key as you address burnout and consider your options.

Reduce Burnout and Increase Satisfaction To Help You Decide Your Next Steps

These 3 questions are a good place to start exploring what it takes for you to feel good as a physician and healthcare provider, and, ultimately, whether you stay or go.

Before you jump ship, I suggest taking the time and effort to make your career as good as it can be. There are many ways to go about this and the above 3 questions can help guide you on your journey.

You can get to your metaphorical spring and see if the tree of your career is still looking lifeless, or if, with intention and care, you start to notice new growth.

Then, you can ask again, “Should I stay or should I go?” You might be surprised by your answer.

If you’re experiencing burnout and think you might need to leave medicine, let’s talk about how to decide from a place of power. Click here for more info.