Thou shalt follow these 10 tips to live well

Commentary. By Eric Anderson, MD, AMNews contributor. Oct. 11, 2004.

COMMENTARY

Observations on the state of medical practice and medical life

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At his trial in 399 B.C. before the citizens of Athens, Socrates famously questioned whether the unexamined life was worth living.

That might give physicians pause. Busy doctors seldom have time to step back -- and look back. We are too busy as individuals to see the big picture as we work away on our own little paint-by-number canvas.

More recently, in his classic work of the 1950s, Childhood and Society, neo-Freudian Eric Erikson introduced his concept of the eight ages of man. His last and final age was of integrity and despair -- if we were confident we had lived life well, we could die fearless.

So if we can take a moment for that necessary backward glance to answer that question, have we lived well? Do any principles emerge? As we talk to older, apparently successful, physicians, do they have any advice for younger doctors? What worked for them? What has given satisfaction?

Are there, as it were, Ten Commandments for doctors when their careers start -- at the very time when they might become engulfed with responsibilities?

There is surprising agreement of practical and metaphysical points among those doctors who have been there, done that. If we were to list their "Thou Shalt" comments they might include:

1. Create systems in our work including rising early and staying on schedule. That's the only way we'll be able to get home to family in a timely fashion at the end of the day. As we hear repeatedly, no one says on his or her deathbed, "I wish I'd spent more time at the office."