Getting Out of Our Own Way: How Physicians Can Reclaim Time and Leave Work on Time

For many physicians, the all-too-familiar scenario is that they finish seeing the last patient and still have hours of charting, inbox tasks and administrative work to complete. Many evenings and weekends are consumed by unfinished work. The big problem is not just the workload; it is how we get in our own way. This post will help physicians recognize these patterns and shift toward efficiency without burnout.

What exactly does “getting in our own way” mean? There are internal habits, thoughts and behaviors that unintentionally slow us down or keep us stuck. For example, in clinical medicine, we overthink how to document a patient’s chart. Or we believe that a patient’s note has to be perfect. Or we are thinking back and forth about how to talk to patients about their new diagnosis. Another example is avoiding uncomfortable but necessary workflow changes to be more efficient. Or we are saying yes to extra tasks out of reflex, without seriously thinking if we can handle them. These behaviors often come from good intentions for better patient care, out of responsibility and thoroughness, but inadvertently become obstacles to be more efficient.

How to recognize when you are getting in your own way? Self-awareness is the key to recognize and acknowledge if you are hindering your own progress. Some signs to look out for: you are rewriting or over-editing notes over and over. Or if you are delaying the completion of charts until later and dreading it as you do them. Are you feeling mentally exhausted by simple tasks? Are you telling yourself “this is just how it is”? The internal cues are resistance, procrastination or dread. You are resisting change even though it may make a positive difference. You are delaying a task because you do not feel like doing it or you do not feel comfortable doing it. Or you believe that if it is not perfect, it is not acceptable. When you recognize these cues, ask yourself where you are making this harder than it needs to be.

Even when we know better, we are often still bound by obstacles to efficiency. Perfectionism is a big one. Physicians are trained in the culture of being perfect – getting perfect scores and believing how we are being judged negatively when we do not appear to be perfect. As a result, we constantly try to perfect what we do instead of moving forward. Another obstacle is the fear of change. You are comfortable in the current workflow not because it is efficient, but because you are used to it. You fear that the new workflow may not work. Another obstacle that is promoting us to get in our own way is the challenge of our identity that is shaped in our training. Most of us are conditioned from the medical culture that the more you work, the better doctor you are, which brings about the discomfort of upholding boundaries. You have a difficult time saying no or limiting extra responsibilities. When you keep working and working, the more decisions you make the more decision fatigue you are experiencing, which also hinders your work efficiency. Realize that these obstacles are normal, even outside of medicine; these are not personal failures.

Often we know what would help us in efficiency, at least in theory. Many physicians know that using templates, setting time limits and batching tasks will increase work efficiency, but many do not implement. One reason is that their mind is resistant to short-term discomfort without fully considering the long-term gain. There is also the fear of doing something “wrong”. It takes time to change a habit; once you are used to a way of doing things, you tend to stay the same. It is important to realize that efficiency often requires doing things that feel unfamiliar or uncomfortable at first. Allowing ourselves to see the long-term benefit that exceeds the short-term “pain” is crucial to trying new ways.

If you are not efficient yet, it is okay. Efficiency is a learnable skill, it is not a fixed trait. Let yourself be curious and be willing to experiment and try new things. Try new documentation styles or new technology, such as AI. Set time boundaries for charting – for example, spend no more than 8 minutes to finish an established patient chart, and no more than 20 minutes to finish a new patient’s chart. Be willing to change workflows – do it incrementally. Normalize imperfection – not just about writing notes. Recognize that not every strategy will work for you, and that is part of the process – to experiment and see what works and what does not. Approach changes as experiments – they are not signed contracts or permanent commitments. If something does not work, change it.

The one crucial thing that is getting in our own way is not having the belief that it is possible to be efficient. The common belief is that “this is just the way medicine is”. That used to be my own belief too. Question your belief – is it absolutely true? Many physicians who are working full-time do leave work on time. Instead of thinking that it is for them and not for me, how about using them as an example of what is possible – it is possible for you to leave work on time too. If you do not believe change is possible, you will not try things differently. Allow yourself you shift from “I can’t” to “I am learning how”. Progress starts before proof.

Practice self-compassion instead of self-criticism. It is common for physicians to offer harsh self-judgement – I should be faster, or I am behind again (how useless I am). This kind of unkind and mean self-talk increases stress and reduces cognitive efficiency. Instead, treat yourself like you would a person you truly care about. Have the awareness of how you talk to yourself – are you being kind and loving? If not, pause and reframe. For example, instead of saying to yourself, “this was another long day and this is the way it is”, say “this was a hard day – what can I learn from it?”

One of the greatest teachers is our past. Learn from our past without letting it define who you are. Our past experiences are not evidence of failure, but data for us to reflect and learn from. What worked? What did not work? What would I try differently next time? Your past patterns are not permanent – unless you allow them to be. Each day is an opportunity to learn and improve.

Take small steps toward big change. Becoming more efficient is not an overnight act. Start small – one change per week. For example, practice finishing a patient’s note before leaving the room or before seeing the next patient. Set a timer to limit the time spent in documentation. Focus on consistency over perfection. Efficiency is built gradually.

The biggest barrier to efficiency is not just the workload, it is the resistance to the patterns we can change. Be empowered by the belief that you are capable of becoming more efficient. Envision the day that you are leaving work on time, enjoying your free evenings and reconnecting with why you choose medicine. Getting out of your own way is not about becoming someone else. It is about supporting yourself better by believing that it is possible and by being kind to yourself.