From Adrenaline Rush to Monotony

I recently learned that another colleague is leaving clinical practice.

What's he going to do instead? Real estate.

Why? He's bored.

While I'm as sympathetic as they come to physician career changes, the news is a bit jarring. It prompts me to wonder: are doctors more prone to boredom than the general population? And if so, why?

The Path to Medicine: Not for the Faint of Heart

It's a common belief that people become doctors for a guaranteed path to a comfortable life.

Yet, becoming a doctor is anything but safe. It involves putting oneself out there in ways that many find uncomfortable. The premed stage comes with plenty of uncomfortable risks. They must excel in academics while building a strong set of extracurriculars. Pursuing med school is too risky and challenging for many.

This desire to do what others won't may foreshadow later boredom as a doctor.

The Rollercoaster of Medical Training

The last day of my first clinical rotation was a sad moment. A sudden end after a month of intense shared experiences with my team. We'd faced life-or-death situations and made inside jokes. But I'd likely never see most of them again. This cycle of hello and goodbye becomes a defining feature of medical training.

A doctor becomes accustomed to the novelty of a new job every month. It's hard to match that once you become an attending physician with a steady job.

The Reality of Clinical Practice

There's no denying that being a doctor can be fascinating. We learn continuously, practices evolve, and we make big decisions. Yet, like any job, much of the day-to-day work can become routine. The thrill of solving complex medical puzzles can fade.

So can the excitement of performing intricate procedures. These tasks become commonplace. As one heart surgeon confided, "Nothing about my job is exciting anymore. And the only time it is exciting is when I'm worried about getting sued."

The ideal of an exciting medical career clashes with the reality of routine practice. This gap can cause deep boredom and dissatisfaction.

The Grass Is Always Greener

Physicians are in a unique social position. They earn enough to mingle with people who are much more successful. These non-doctors might be bored in their jobs too. But, physicians see they're getting the short end of the stick on work-life balance.

Take my colleague transitioning to real estate, for instance. He'll soon control his schedule. He can work from home or on vacation. There's potential to earn more and live a better life. Constant exposure to greener pastures can make clinical practice feel stifling. It can worsen boredom and dissatisfaction.

The Future of Medical Careers

Unless drastic changes occur, more doctors will move to jobs with large organizations. Yet, younger generations of physicians increasingly value flexibility and quality of life. This shift will lead to more casual relationships with healthcare organizations. It will increase job-hopping for better conditions and raise pressure for higher reimbursement. Ironically, this flexibility might bring back some of the variety that made medical training interesting.

Navigating the Boredom Epidemic

Some doctors may feel a strong urge to pursue non-clinical paths. Yet the world still needs good clinicians. Ideally, doctors would find joy in one great job. They would also have a great personal life and become financially independent. But this is often wishful thinking.

Doctors today must recognize they will likely become dissatisfied at some point. They should understand the reasons and work to reduce them. At any career stage, it's vital to make choices that resist dissatisfaction. Keep your options flexible to maintain variety and maximize the reward-to-boredom ratio.

Conclusion

Boredom will eventually creep into any job, and medicine is no exception. As doctors, we need to be proactive in managing our careers and life satisfaction. Whether to stay in clinical practice or explore other paths is up to you. But understanding these challenges is key to a fulfilling career.

What are your thoughts on physician boredom? Have you experienced it, or found ways to keep your medical career engaging? Share your experiences in the comments below.