Are you a doctor over 45? It’s time to rethink your career.
Better job and career options for senior physicians
Nobody likes to talk about it, but we’re all getting older. Activities we once took for granted are tougher. It’s harder to focus. Overnight call is like pulling teeth. Even our fluid intelligence is on the decline. We’ve all noticed subtle changes, but we’re afraid to admit it in public - or to ourselves.
In other words, the extra pain we feel on a long shift is normal, age-related, and only going to get worse.
Fortunately, aging has its advantages. Our vocabulary and verbal skills continue to grow, and our ability to understand situations based on prior knowledge, known as crystallized intelligence, improves with age. Our wealth of experience provides us with a deeper understanding of the world.
Arthur Brooks, the author of the fabulous book From Strength to Strength, explains that clinging to the same job while aging feels like running on a treadmill while falling further and further behind. Work as hard as you want, but your job will just feel more brutal and less rewarding.
The solution? Change careers to take advantage of our strengths as we age. Once we’re in our late 40s and beyond, it’s time to consider new opportunities like teaching, consulting, speaking, writing, being on TV, and advising others. At a minimum, we should alter our clinical work hours to honestly reflect our stamina.
By pivoting from an increasingly painful job of overnight call to one more advisory, we’ll play to our strengths and feel more satisfied with our careers.
Why struggle or risk making a catastrophic mistake?
Do you have questions about how you can improve your job or change careers? Book a 30-minute Free Consultation with me. I’m here to help.
Chat soon,
Greg Charlop, MD
Dr. Greg Charlop and his dog Dash playing Scrabble
