One way of scheduling a work day is to maximize how many patients I see. I've developed a slightly different approach: scheduling to keep a reasonable amount of compassion for each patient I see.
People in medicine tend to be those who throw lots of energy into their goals and expect a requisite output in return. Yet, running at a high level has its costs. My fear is the skill that got me through my medical training won't be the one that keeps me in it for the long term.
So rather than sprinting through a fully-packed day, I schedule my days with regular breaks and at least a thirty-minute digital-free lunch break. I know that I'm not in a good place when I'm irritable with my patients, who are reasonably asking for help with their medical concerns. Having those margins help me keep my energy and my heart refreshed to be the physician I want to be for them: a person who will be present with them and come alongside to figure things out.
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