Are you observing that your doctor clients and prospects are not as happy as they were before the pandemic?
A recent Medscape report on lifestyle and happiness reveals that many doctors are struggling to find the same level of contentment they enjoyed before the pandemic. You can sign up for a free Medscape account and view the entire report.
Among the surveyed doctors, about 80% said they were very or somewhat happy before the pandemic, and about 60% are happy today.
How can this happiness gap be closed? This is where you have an opportunity!
First, though, here are some of the numbers from the Medscape survey.
During the height of the pandemic, doctors were increasingly ready to choose better work-life balance over pay. This year, 53% of physicians said they would earn less to enjoy life more, as compared to 40% of surveyed American workers.
The great majority of physicians are married or in a committed relationship. Female physicians stay unattached at greater rates than make physicians. About 80% of physicians describe their marriage as very good or good.
About 20% of married physicians say they’re partnered to another physician, 25% are partnered to a non-physician in healthcare, and 55% say that their partner is either not working in healthcare or not working outside the home.
Almost half of women physicians are conflicted about balancing parenting and professional responsibilities. Adding to that stress, female physicians often have a hard time talking about conflicts with their bosses.
About 80% of doctors kept vacation time less than 4 weeks.
Doctors’ workout routines remained consistent.
About 70% of physicians have spiritual or religious beliefs.
About half of doctors are trying to lose weight.
While Toyota, Honda and BMW raked as the top cars doctor drive, Tesla has gained popularity.
Why are doctors increasingly unhappy?
You might think, "Of course doctors are less happy than before the pandemic. They're asked to work more, they're catching up from COVID-related income losses and they're more stressed."
However, here's a tidbit from Harvard psychiatrist Robert Waldinger and author of the recently released book The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study on Happiness. He says, "We can predict who’s going to be happy and live longer. It's the people who have the warmest relationships and the people who are most connected to other people in their lives are the people who stay healthier and live longer."
The COVID pandemic has disrupted relationships. Could this explain the numbers in this Medscape survey?
What does this mean for you?
As you meet with physicians, ask, “How content are you with your level of happiness as compared to before the pandemic?”
Then ask, “What would need to happen for you to be happier?” If they say, “Take more vacation,” you can ask, “Would you like to explore how you can do that?”
Explore whether your clients are managing stress with "retail therapy." Then you can explore alternative ways to respond to stress.
Read Dr. Walinger's book The Good Life. Consider buying it as a gift for your clients if you like it.
Remember that your clients have a relationship with YOU. Nurture them.
Remind physicians that wealth is the freedom to do what they want to do when they want to do it. TrueWealth is the ability to do this is a way that their calendars and their finances align with their calendars.
What do you think?
To your success,
Dr. Vicki
Vicki Rackner MD
A recent Medscape report on lifestyle and happiness reveals that many doctors are struggling to find the same level of contentment they enjoyed before the pandemic. You can sign up for a free Medscape account and view the entire report.
Among the surveyed doctors, about 80% said they were very or somewhat happy before the pandemic, and about 60% are happy today.
How can this happiness gap be closed? This is where you have an opportunity!
First, though, here are some of the numbers from the Medscape survey.
During the height of the pandemic, doctors were increasingly ready to choose better work-life balance over pay. This year, 53% of physicians said they would earn less to enjoy life more, as compared to 40% of surveyed American workers.
The great majority of physicians are married or in a committed relationship. Female physicians stay unattached at greater rates than make physicians. About 80% of physicians describe their marriage as very good or good.
About 20% of married physicians say they’re partnered to another physician, 25% are partnered to a non-physician in healthcare, and 55% say that their partner is either not working in healthcare or not working outside the home.
Almost half of women physicians are conflicted about balancing parenting and professional responsibilities. Adding to that stress, female physicians often have a hard time talking about conflicts with their bosses.
About 80% of doctors kept vacation time less than 4 weeks.
Doctors’ workout routines remained consistent.
About 70% of physicians have spiritual or religious beliefs.
About half of doctors are trying to lose weight.
While Toyota, Honda and BMW raked as the top cars doctor drive, Tesla has gained popularity.
Why are doctors increasingly unhappy?
You might think, "Of course doctors are less happy than before the pandemic. They're asked to work more, they're catching up from COVID-related income losses and they're more stressed."
However, here's a tidbit from Harvard psychiatrist Robert Waldinger and author of the recently released book The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study on Happiness. He says, "We can predict who’s going to be happy and live longer. It's the people who have the warmest relationships and the people who are most connected to other people in their lives are the people who stay healthier and live longer."
The COVID pandemic has disrupted relationships. Could this explain the numbers in this Medscape survey?
What does this mean for you?
As you meet with physicians, ask, “How content are you with your level of happiness as compared to before the pandemic?”
Then ask, “What would need to happen for you to be happier?” If they say, “Take more vacation,” you can ask, “Would you like to explore how you can do that?”
Explore whether your clients are managing stress with "retail therapy." Then you can explore alternative ways to respond to stress.
Read Dr. Walinger's book The Good Life. Consider buying it as a gift for your clients if you like it.
Remember that your clients have a relationship with YOU. Nurture them.
Remind physicians that wealth is the freedom to do what they want to do when they want to do it. TrueWealth is the ability to do this is a way that their calendars and their finances align with their calendars.
What do you think?
To your success,
Dr. Vicki
Vicki Rackner MD