Boosting Efficiency and Balance for Medical School Faculty

    Lessons from “Less Doing, More Living”

    Introduction:

    As medical school faculty, we often find ourselves juggling numerous responsibilities – teaching, research, clinical work, and administrative duties. The constant demands on our time and energy can lead to burnout and reduced effectiveness. Ari Meisel’s book “Less Doing, More Living: Make Everything in Life Easier” offers valuable insights that can be applied to streamline our work and achieve better work-life balance. Let’s explore how the principles from this book can transform the way we approach our roles in academic medicine.

    The idea of Less Doing is to reclaim your time and—more important—your mind, so you can do the things you want to do.

    Ari Meisel

    Summary of the Book:

    “Less Doing, More Living” presents a framework for optimizing, automating, and outsourcing various aspects of work and life. Meisel introduces nine fundamental principles, including the 80/20 rule, creating an “external brain”, customization, choosing your own workweek, stopping errands, managing finances, organization, batching, and wellness. The book emphasizes leveraging technology and strategic thinking to reduce inefficiencies and focus on what truly matters.

    Key Points:

    1. The 80/20 Rule: Focus on the 20% of efforts that produce 80% of results
    2. Creating an “External Brain”: Use tools like Evernote to offload information
    3. Outsourcing and Delegation: Identify tasks that can be done by others
    4. Automation: Use technology to streamline repetitive tasks
    5. Customization: Tailor solutions to your specific needs
    6. Choose Your Own Workweek: Structure your time for maximum efficiency
    7. Organization: Set limits and work within them
    8. Batching: Group similar tasks together
    9. Wellness: Prioritize fitness, sleep, and nutrition

    Application to Academic Medicine:

    As medical school faculty, we can apply these principles to enhance our productivity and well-being:

    1. Identify high-impact activities: Focus on research, teaching, or clinical work that aligns with your goals and produces the most significant outcomes.
    2. Leverage technology: Use tools like Evernote or OneNote to organize research ideas, lecture notes, and administrative tasks.
    3. Delegate effectively: Train research assistants, teaching assistants, or administrative staff to handle routine tasks. Provide clear instructions and regular feedback to ensure quality.
    4. Automate wisely: Set up email filters, use scheduling tools for office hours, and automate data collection in research where possible. Be cautious not to over-automate critical processes.
    5. Customize your workflow: Tailor your workspace, digital tools, and schedules to your preferences and peak productivity times.
    6. Structure your workweek: Block out dedicated time for different responsibilities (e.g., research days, clinical days, teaching prep).
    7. Set boundaries: Establish clear limits on commitments and learn to say no to low-priority requests.
    8. Batch similar tasks: Group activities like grading, email responses, or literature reviews to maintain focus and efficiency.
    9. Prioritize self-care: Make time for exercise, adequate sleep, and proper nutrition to sustain long-term productivity and avoid burnout.

    Personal Thoughts:

    As someone who has struggled with balancing the many demands of academic medicine, I find Meisel’s approach refreshing. The emphasis on working smarter rather than harder resonates deeply. However, it’s crucial to remember that in our field, human interaction and mentorship are irreplaceable. We must use these efficiency techniques to create more time for meaningful engagement with students, colleagues, and patients, rather than simply to do more work.

    Action Steps:

    1. Conduct a time audit: Track how you spend your time for a week to identify inefficiencies.
    2. Choose one area to optimize: Start with a single aspect, such as email management or research note organization.
    3. Experiment with automation: Try out a scheduling tool or email management system.
    4. Practice delegation: Identify one task you can train someone else to do and create a clear process for it.
    5. Establish “focus blocks”: Set aside uninterrupted time for high-priority work.
    6. Reassess regularly: Schedule monthly check-ins to evaluate your progress and adjust your approach.

    By thoughtfully applying these principles, we can create a more balanced and fulfilling academic career, ultimately benefiting our students, research, and patients. Remember, the goal is not just to do more, but to have a greater impact in the areas that matter most.