Creating Ease: Letting Go of Perfection to Focus on What Really Matters
Creating Ease: Letting Go of Perfection to Focus on What Really Matters
A physician’s guide to reclaiming energy and making room for true fulfillment
Introduction: Beyond Perfection—What Is Ease in Medicine?
As physicians we face relentless demands: rapid-fire clinical decisions, ever-increasing performance expectations, constant interruptions, and taxing documentation and administrative duties. In responding to these and the myriad other demands in our lives, we habitually strive for perfection. Although much of this is rooted in the need for safety, if left unchecked it can spiral into exhaustion, anxiety, and erosion of what truly matters. Rarely can we find ease when we are in this state of being.
So, how can we experience more ease in our careers and personal lives? For most of us, greater ease can come from learning how to:
Let go of unnecessary perfectionism
Set boundaries that respect our energy
Address systemic pressures instead of internalizing them
Adopt restorative habits amid chaos
Establish connections to harness the power of peer support
In this article I explore five real-world strategies for accomplishing this and working with—rather than against—the complexity of modern clinical life.
1. Set Clear Boundaries to Protect Your Energy
Why Physicians Need Boundaries:
Our environments are full of demands that we have little to no control over, such as: how “on-task” the MA we have for that day might be, patients needing “just one more thing,” an urgent visit added to our clinic day, no bed availability in the hospital, “quick questions” from colleagues, last-minute requests to trade a shift, “urgent” emails from admin, etc.…
Without intentional boundaries, our mental and emotional space is slowly eroded.
Practical Boundaries:
Be clear about your time:“Mrs. Smith, we have about five more minutes. What would be most important for you to discuss before we close?”
Avoid unnecessary distractions:“I see that you have a question for me. Can I have a minute to finish what I’m doing so I don’t lose my train of thought? Or, if this isn’t urgent can we talk at the end of the day/shift?
Remember that every “Yes” means you have to say “No” to something else:“I’m flattered that you think I would be a good fit for this committee. I will think about it and see if I can make that work. I will get back to you.”
Call Out:Remember: Boundaries aren’t about shutting others out—they’re about keeping your own well-being in.
2. Recognize Systemic Barriers (and Resist Internalizing Them)
Physician exhaustion is most often a symptom of broken systems, not broken people. When our inboxes are flooded and our clinics are understaffed, it’s easy to fall behind, and even easier to blame ourselves.
Key Insight:
Not all challenges are yours to “fix.” Pause before reflexively absorbing system problems as personal failures.
Action Steps:
Name systemic pressures: EHR limitations, under-resourced staffing, administrative overload…
Ask, “What is within my control here—and what is not?”
Practice self-compassion: “This challenge isn’t about my competence; it’s about the system.”
Call Out:
The key here is not to become resentful. It’s important to actively choose to let go of any negative thoughts and emotions that may come up due to the system barriers. Focus on what IS under your control- your response to every moment and interaction. Much of the misery we experience is a result of our negative thoughts and emotions around an issue/situation versus the situation itself.
3. Integrate Restorative Micro-Habits—Even During Hectic Days
Why Micro-Habits Work:We can rarely take long breaks or leave early—but we CAN insert small moments of recovery into even the busiest schedule.
Practical Micro-Habits:
Mindful Pause: Take 30-60 seconds between patients; focus on your breath, relax your shoulders, and reset your mind. (I do this while I’m examining patients. When listening to their hearts and lungs, I take an extra 10 seconds to simply either focus on the sounds that I’m hearing or to focus on the sensation of my feet on the floor).
Movement Micro-Breaks: Be intentional about getting up from your desk and feeling your feet as you step. You can also focus on the movement of your body as you walk to a patient room, or as you sit. Focusing on the movement quiets your mind. If you’re feeling particularly “wired” take a slightly longer walk to the bathroom. If nothing else, movement is good for you!
Reflective Note-Taking: Between charts, jot one meaningful moment from your day so far—a patient’s gratitude, a successful intervention, etc.
“Even 2 minutes of intentional, conscious rest can reclaim more energy for your next encounter.”
4. Cultivate Peer Support and Normalize Asking for Help
Why It Matters:The training we undergo to become physicians often causes us to build walls making us feel disconnected and isolated, fearing that asking for support signals weakness. But connection creates resilience.
Ways to Build Support:
Peer Check-Ins: Pair with a colleague—every Monday, exchange one thing you’ll simplify or delegate that week.
Shame-Free Sharing: Share a recent “good enough” decision in a team/division meeting to model ease for others.
Action:Who in your circle can you lean on, vent to, or brainstorm with? Invite a peer to join your “ease experiment” this month.
5. Practice Compassionate Self-Evaluation
Replace the harsh inner critic with gentle, honest appraisal:
End-of-Day Prompt: “Where did I choose wisely in protecting my energy today?”
Reframe “Mistakes”: View any slip from perfection as learning (“What will I adjust next time?”), not as failure.
Checklist:
Did I say “no” or set a limit when needed?
Did I pause to notice—and not internalize—systemic issues?
Did I try a micro-rest, even briefly?
Did I share my struggles or successes with a colleague?
Did I practice self-compassion?
Conclusion: Redefining Excellence as Sustainable Care
Choosing to find ease in how you work and what you experience does NOT mean you are lazy or apathetic—it’s, in fact, great wisdom. It will support you in learning to filter the noise, resist perfection when it’s not needed, and rebuild your days around what supports meaningful patient care and personal well-being. By combining boundaries, systemic awareness, restorative habits, peer connection, and self-compassion, we can move beyond survival mode and sustainably thrive—day after day, patient after patient.
CALL-TO-ACTION:
Ready to create more ease and meaning in your clinical life?
Set one boundary this week—big or small
Try a 2-minute break after your next challenging patient
Share this article with a colleague and invite them into your “ease experiment.”
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