Permission to Slow Down
I was enjoying a breakfast with a colleague on a weekday when I realized something:
We may not be rich financially, but we're rich in time.
Ashley Whillans, a Harvard Business School assistant professor, defines "time poverty" as the feeling of being constantly overwhelmed by work and life demands. Her research shows that about 80% of working adults experience time poverty, cutting across income, gender, and family status.
My friend and I had recently cut down clinical work to pursue new passions. For me, it was studying how to design a sustainable career. As for my friend, he became a part-time tattoo artist.
For most of my career, I spent 6 days/week in clinic, working long hours and weekends. I believe it's a rite of passage that every new doctor goes through, and in that chapter of my life, it served me well.
But my life has changed a lot – I got married, overcame a 3-year health crisis, and welcomed a beautiful daughter. And just like life, I learned that careers go through chapters too.
As I continued down the same path, I began feeling more and more misaligned in my career. My inner voice was loud and clear: "As good as this chapter was, it's time for the next one."
"When You Do Good Work, You Invite More Work."
Its easy to fill our calendar with work. As Dr. Brianna Rhue once told me, "When you do good work, you invite more work."
Especially in a high-value profession like optometry, saying no to more work is incredibly hard. It's why so many professionals are trapped in "golden handcuffs."
What's really difficult is the opposite of overworking: slowing down.
2 years ago, I quit my stable job for one simple reason: I dreaded where my current life trajectory was headed.
At the time, I didn't know exactly what my ideal work and life looked like, but I wanted to slow down to create the space for deep reflections.
In other words, I gave myself the permission to slow down.
More Days In Clinic Increases Burnout Risk
Here's one of the most interesting statistics from the recent major burnout study among optometrists:
More clinical days increases risk of burnout.
As amazing as optometry is, there is an emotional "tax" that we have to pay.
Interestingly, the difference between no burnout group and severe burnout group is only around half a day of work/week. This is actually a fantastic news! Even dropping a half-day will have a significant impact on your work happiness.
If there's even a small part of you that's feeling misaligned at work, consider reducing your workweek. Think of it as a temporary experiment – you can always add it back later.
Give Yourself The Permission to Slow Down
As I write this on a beautiful sunny day, sipping my barley tea, with my daughter sleeping soundly, I can't help but feel grateful for these slow mornings.
As you enjoy the rest of your Sunday, I invite you to reflect on your current pace of work and life. Are your days nice and slow, or do days and weeks blur together?
Give yourself the permission to slow down.
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