I think a lot about burnout in medicine. This thought was the initial driving force of starting a blog.
When I initially started this blog, it was around the time I paid off my student loans, and I had several topics to discuss. However, once I settled that financial milestone, I found myself struggling to identify fresh content. Consequently, I haven’t posted for months.
Recently, I began contemplating what other aspects of my life I could explore in this space. While my job is generally satisfying, it comes with its fair share of ups and downs. I’m consistently brainstorming ways to generate passive income, driven by my ultimate goal of achieving financial freedom. I aspire to practice medicine on my terms, not out of necessity. Patient care, especially surgery, brings me a sense of fulfillment, but the associated tasks can be burdensome. From on-call duties and emergencies to the never-ending documentation and inbox tasks, the challenges seem endless. The structure of the medical profession has always puzzled me, with many professionals appearing overworked and burnt out. It’s hard to believe this leads to quality patient care and positive outcomes. Perhaps the root of the problem lies in the imbalance between the number of patients and healthcare providers. It’s a perpetual uphill battle. The real question is, is this battle worth fighting? I want to believe I’m in this for others, but can one truly help others if they are not happy themselves?
These are the questions that occupy my thoughts daily. Some days, the answers come easily; other days are more challenging. I suspect many professions share this dichotomy, whether in medicine or an entirely different field. Should medicine be viewed merely as a job, or is it more of a calling? I tend to lean towards the former. I’d like to blog more frequently because I find writing to be a therapeutic way of self-expression. Should I document my day-to-day life, or should I explore activities outside of medicine? It’s my blog, after all, and I can write about whatever I want. Perhaps that’s the direction I’ll take…
Hopefully more to come.