For physicians, the line between professional dedication and personal fulfillment can blur all too easily. Long hours, demanding schedules, and the emotional toll of patient care leave little room for balance. But what if the answer lies not in doing less but in approaching your time with more flexibility?

This week, Lucens members Roshni Patel, DO, and Matthew Brink, MD, share how flexibility has been a game-changer in managing their careers and personal lives, proving that balance isn’t about perfection—it’s about adaptation.

Question:

I feel like I’m always trading time with my family to keep up at work. What’s your advice for staying productive while also carving out time for life outside medicine?
—M.B., Illinois

Matt:

Balance is less about perfection and more about making trade-offs that feel right for you. For me, flexibility is essential. There are times when I need to stay late at work or handle something urgent, but I know that flexibility allows me to adjust later.

For instance, if my week has been packed with long hours, I’ll make it a point to take my family to Disney one weekend or carve out time for smaller moments like family dinners during the week. It’s about accepting that some weeks will tilt heavily toward work, while others allow more space for personal life.

Clear communication and staying organized are also crucial. I’m upfront with my team and patients about my availability and use my schedule as a tool for creating flexibility. It’s not about striving for balance every day; it’s about knowing when to lean in and when to take a step back.

Roshni:

For me, flexibility and structure aren’t opposites—they’re partners. To balance my work and personal life, I treat time for myself as sacred as any patient appointment. Whether it’s exercise, hobbies, or just downtime, I block off hours on my calendar and treat them as non-negotiable commitments.

At work, I’ve learned to build flexibility into my day by leaving breathing room between meetings and patient appointments. It’s inevitable that unexpected things will come up, but having those buffer zones makes it easier to handle surprises without throwing off my whole day.

Ultimately, flexibility allows me to show up more fully for both my patients and myself. And when life does get hectic, those systems keep me from feeling like I’m constantly juggling without ever catching my breath.

The Bottom Line

As Matt and Roshni shared, flexibility is the foundation of balance for physicians. It’s not about making every day perfect but about adapting to the ebbs and flows of work and life.

By building flexibility into your schedule, setting boundaries, and knowing when to lean in or step back, you can avoid burnout and find a sustainable rhythm that works for you—professionally and personally.

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