Few movies have universal appeal these days; but one that comes close is Bill Murray’s 1993 classic Groundhog Day in which Murray’s character is trapped in a time loop, living the same day over and over until he finally “gets it right.”
One reason that this film resonates with so many, I think, is that we are all, in essence, similarly trapped. Not in a same-day loop, of course; but each week seems eerily similar to the last, as does each month, each year – on and on, ad infinitum. That’s why it is so important, every so often, to step out of the “loop” and reassess the bigger picture.
Dr. Joseph S. Eastern
I write this reminder every couple of years, because it’s so easy to lose sight of the overall landscape among the pressures of our daily routines. Sooner or later, no matter how dedicated we are, the grind gets to all of us, leading to fatigue, irritability, and a progressive decline in motivation. And we are too busy to sit down and think about what we might do to break that vicious cycle. This is detrimental to our own well-being, as well as that of our patients.
There are many ways to maintain your intellectual and emotional health, but here’s how I do it: I take individual days off (average of 1 a month) to catch up on journals or take a CME course; or to try something new – something I’ve been thinking about doing “someday, when there is time” – such as a guitar, bass, or sailing lesson; or get away a long weekend away with my wife. And we take longer vacations, without fail, each year.
I know how some of you feel about “wasting” a day – or, God forbid, a week. Patients might go elsewhere while you’re gone, and every day the office is idle, you “lose money.” That whole paradigm is wrong. You bring in a given amount of revenue per year – more on some days, less on other days, none on weekends and vacations; it all averages out in the end.
Besides, this is much more important than money. This is breaking the routine, clearing the cobwebs, living your life. And trust me, your practice will still be there when you return.
Six weeks ago, my wife and I packed our carry-ons, bought rail passes, and took off for Japan. As we whisked around the archipelago on those incredibly punctual Shinkansen bullet trains, I didn’t have the time – or the slightest inclination – to worry about the office. But I did accumulate some great ideas – practical, medical, and literary. Original thoughts are hard to chase down during the daily grind; but in a refreshing environment, they will seek you out.
When our whistle-stop trip was over, I returned ready to take on the world, and my practice, anew.
More than once I’ve recounted the story of K. Alexander Müller and J. Georg Bednorz, the Swiss Nobel Laureates whose superconductivity research ground to a halt in 1986. The harder they pressed, the more elusive progress became. So Müller decided to take a break to read a new book on ceramics – a subject that had always interested him.
Nothing could have been less relevant to his work, of course; ceramics are among the poorest conductors known. But, in that lower-pressure environment, Müller realized that a unique property of ceramics might apply to their project.
Back in the lab, the team created a ceramic compound that became the first successful “high-temperature” superconductor, which in turn triggered an explosion of research leading to breakthroughs in computing, electricity transmission, magnetically elevated trains, and many applications yet to be realized.
Sharpening your saw may not change the world, but it will change you; any nudge out of your comfort zone will give you fresh ideas and help you look at seemingly insoluble problems in completely new ways.
And to those who still can’t bear the thought of taking time off, remember the dying words that no one has spoken, ever: “I wish I had spent more time in my office!”
Dr. Eastern practices dermatology and dermatologic surgery in Belleville, N.J. He is the author of numerous articles and textbook chapters, and is a longtime monthly columnist for Dermatology News. Write to him at dermnews@frontlinemedcom.com.