Episode 117. Work-Life Balance With Dr Ian Martin
While the boundaries between work and home are clear for many professions, in medicine, this boundary has traditionally not been so well defined. Medical work is notorious for invading personal life, made worse by advances in technology that have allowed a constant connection to clinical practice, especially through telephones. This facilitates work responsibilities that frequently encroach upon home time, recreation, and the sensitivities of one's personal life. Maintaining a work-life balance is no simple task. It is very easy to become absorbed in one's medical work, lose sight of personal space and values, and feel overwhelmed by the weight of responsibility in caring for sick patients and worrying about tests ordered and the clinical progress of those under your care. Undoubtedly, our compulsive personality traits reinforce this behaviour.
The consequences of a poor work-life balance include fatigue, poor health, a negative impact on one's mental well-being, and lost time with friends and loved ones, including missing important family events and milestones.
Balancing work and life requires effort, planning, and trade-offs. Some important conversations we must engage in when striving for work-life balance include learning to:
Say No
Make choices about time and money
Avoid cynicism
In exploring these ideas, I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Ian Martin at the amazing Fiji island surf resort of Namotu. Ian is not only the consummate gentleman and an incredible athlete proficient in all water sports, but he also embodies a charming sense of peace and Zen. During our conversation, I soon realised that he had mastered the art of work-life balance. For those who know Ian, his professional career as a bariatric and upper gastrointestinal surgeon based in Brisbane is exemplary. He has received the Surgeon of Excellence award for his work in surgery and is one of the leading contributors to the National Bariatric Surgery Registry. He has served as a reviewer for the ANZ Journal of Surgeons and has been a respected mentor to many trainees. Recently, he transitioned from full-time work to a more balanced schedule, during which time he has mastered the art of paragliding and expertly flown from Slovenia to Italy and Austria before returning in a casual round trip of over 120 km.
It was a real privilege to ask Ian to share his wisdom and tips for achieving a more balanced life while working in medicine with us today. Please welcome Dr. Ian Martin to the podcast.
References:
Dr Ian Martin: brisbaneweightlosssurgery.com.au
Finding Balance in a Medical Life, by Lee Lipsenthal, 2007 (www.findingbalanceproductions.com)
Balancing Your Life at Work and Home: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.com.au
To be a guest on the show or provide some feedback, I’d love to hear from you: manager@gihealth.com.au.
Dr Luke Crantock MBBS, FRACP, is a gastroenterologist in practice for over 25 years. He is the founder of The Centre for GI Health, based in Melbourne, Australia, and is passionate about educating General Practitioners and patients on disease prevention and how to manage and improve their digestive health.