The healthcare field is challenging because of the variability from day to day but that is also what makes it so enjoyable. If you haven’t intentionally examined your workflow to optimize your performance you probably struggle to meet or even better, stay ahead of expectations. Let me walk you through 3 habits that will set you up to increase productivity.
1. Orient Your Day, Don’t Let the Day Orient You
As you head into work you should know the framework of your entire day. A clear framework can increase productivity significantly, as it avoids expending unnecessary energy.
Your framework consists of those tasks that must get done every day. These are broad categories like vancomycin consults, warfarin consults, patient work up for team rounds, hospitalist patient workups, renal dosing review, daily huddles, lunch etc.
When you build your framework you are not only considering what should be done but in what order. This helps to increase productivity.
Which sequence of these core events will minimize redundancies?
Where will each of these tasks be completed?
If you don’t have clear answers to these questions, you are expending energy every single day working through these unnecessary decisions. It is a loss of time and energy.
What to Include in Your Framework
Your framework should account for social engagement. How much time can you spend talking with coworkers without compromising your productivity. This is not to discourage you from interacting at work, this is a necessary part of the profession so build it into your framework.
In your head your framework should be so clear that you know that 15 minutes in the morning, 15 minutes in the afternoon and 10 minutes in the late afternoon, however you slice up those time slots is about all you can spare for socialization to execute your tasks and make it out on time.
You should write out your framework. You will have to refer to it when you first implement it. This is a one-time build. It may require adjustments here and there as your roles or expectations change but this framework is essentially set in stone. After a while, it becomes second nature. I guarantee that sticking to an overarching framework will improve your proficiency and increase your productivity.
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2. Make a Dynamic List
Your dynamic list organizes those tasks that create the fickle nature of healthcare. You don’t have to be a slave to the variability of the days.
Unlike your framework, you quickly generate your dynamic list every day and update throughout the day to increase productivity.
These tasks on the dynamic list vary from day to day.
Because they are not part of your routine they can be easily forgotten.
Review your dynamic list to quickly reorient yourself to what needs to be executed between the framework of your day.
While there is a specific spot in the framework to review vancomycin consults, the vancomycin level pending for 13:00 will be on your dynamic list. There is a big difference between anticipating and responding to a level versus a nursing hunting around trying to find you for a decision on whether to give the next dose. With the dynamic list, YOU initiate the call. You remain a step ahead. This builds trust among your peers.
The antibiotic stewardship meeting that occurs once every 3 months would be on your dynamic list for that day. The baby shower in the breakroom will be on your dynamic list.
The few minutes required to create your dynamic list is well worth the increase in productivity and mental relief you will experience.
3. Do the Hardest Thing First
Whenever possible, place the hardest things on the top of your list. Rip the Band-Aid off, get it out of the way.
Would you walk around all day with a large rock in your hand? You would set it down as soon as possible. Your hardest tasks of the day are a mental rock. It makes everything else you have to do, however simple, more difficult and less enjoyable.
Particularly in healthcare, you never know what lies ahead. There could be many additions to your dynamic list throughout the day. Give yourself the bandwidth to successfully tackle challenges throughout the day by handling the hardest tasks first whenever possible.
It sets great momentum for dominating the day by achieving something difficult early.
I hope that you can visualize the high level of execution and efficiency these strategies enable. No more bouncing around from one event to another all the while worried about all the things you haven’t done but need to get done. All these uncertainties in your day are mentally exhausting and produce poor results. Aim to increase productivity by incorporating these strategies.
All experts agree that intentional time management skills are one of the prominent keys of success. These 3 strategies tell you how to accomplish that.
Recommended Reading
For more strategies to increase your productivity check out the posts on getting the most out of your study session and how to increase your recommendation acceptance rate. As well as these life-changing books: Atomic Habits and Smarter, Faster, Better.
If you’ve found this unit helpful, I would love to hear from you. Tell us what strategies you use to optimize your work day and increase productivity.
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The information on this website is intended to be used solely for educational and informational purposes. While the content may be about specific medical and health care issues, it is not a substitute for or replacement of personalized medical advice and is not intended to be used as the sole basis for making individualized medical or health-related decisions.
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