31/12/2008 by Susan E Kersley.

The Daily Express reports that doctors and nurses do not show enough compassion to patients, experts have warned. What do you think? People complain that the doctor didn’t seem interested or is rude. But from the doctor’s perspective is the apparent lack of compassion the way he or she deals with the stress of the job? Is it the way a doctor can cope with the never ending demands on his or her time and energy to get everything done? When all you can concentrate on is getting things done, not making any mistakes perhaps being polite or listening to what the patient is really trying to tell you, are luxuries. A major factor in all of this is whether or not the doctor is looking after his or her own self care too. Because if you are not showing enough compassion for others maybe, just maybe you are not even treating yourself compassionately either.If you make new year resolutions then maybe one for you is to be more compassionate  to yourself.  What do you think? You can  have more time  too.

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22/12/2008 by Susan E Kersley.

Let me know your tips for managing your time: http://is.gd/cOcS    One of the things I’ve learned is that it’s difficult to follow any time management ‘method’ every single day. It’s good to have several different ways you can make a difference to your day. Some work some days and others on other days.However when you think about your own self care and how important it is to look after your own health and wellbeing needs, this will make a difference.  When you eat well, exercise regularly and have enough sleep then you will be much more effective at looking after your patients. If you can manage to do this at least 80% of the time then it’s OK if you don’t the rest of the time!I’ve got lots more hints and tips for you when you go to http://www.thedoctorscoach.co.uk and even more on http://www.thedoctorscoach.co.uk/timepack.htm

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19/12/2008 by Susan E Kersley.

I’ve been trying to find a connection between what happened to me 2 weeks ago and what I’m offering to doctors with Coaching. I was well but found I had gallstones, so I had my gall bladder removed and feel very well (but not much different from before. However I know I won’t get the awful gall bladder pain any more.Doctors who come for Coaching feel very well. They discover there is something which causes some sort of pain in their lives - maybe not finishing work on time, for example, or never having enough energy to enjoy their family life, and with Coaching discover ways to make changes.The methods used don’t upset or disrupt their lives very much.  However the outcome of even one session of Coaching is the satisfaction that you have the tools to deal with those issues of for example time management so much better and your life improves as a result.Even without one to one Coaching I can help you make a difference in your life: you could take a look at http://www.thedoctorscoach.co.uk/timepack.htm and get some very useful information which will painlessly help you make a difference.In fact after a few weeks you may even believe that nothing has happened except that you seem to be managing things more effectively! 

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14/12/2008 by Susan E Kersley.

 Is there life after medicine?

I was reflecting the other day about how difficult it is for many doctors to leave medicine.Being a member of the medical profession seems to be so much more than just ‘having a job’. There are all sorts of social expectations of doctors and those in themselves can be very stressful.Someone once said to me.’If you are a doctor it’s as if you have the word ‘doctor’ written right through you like Brighton Rock.’Sometimes retirement is a choice and sometimes it’s not. Maybe you have a health issue or you’ve reached ‘retirement’ age and have to leave your NHS appointment.

For some people who do private work it becomes extremely difficult to make the break between working as a doctor and being retired and doing something completely different.I can recognise the range of emotions I went through when I decided to leave medicine. In fact it took about a year before I could confidently say I didn’t want to go back to it.What is it, that keeps doctors working long beyond the official retirement age?

These are the factors I thought of.

Please add your comments and let me know what other factors you can think of.It’s flattering and boosts your self esteem when people seek your opinion.You have accumulated a vast amount of knowledge and experience.You have a lot to teach others.Are any of your expert skills transferable to a life after medicine?What on earth could you do with your day if you stopped working?It’s a routine, you know well, and you don’t like change.

It’s a bit scary to start something new at this age!What else can you think of? All I know is that I went through these things when I left medicine and the reality was that I found lots to do. Not only Coaching which I love because of the connections with so many people whether through one to one sessions, teleclasses, e-books, printed books, course and workshops, but also the opportunity retirement gives to pursue so many diverse things, such as forgotten hobbies, travel and life long learning.For me retirement from medicine was not the end of the road but a door opening to new opportunities.It could be for you too, when you are ready and willing to move from doctor to retired doctor. However I am definitely not suggesting that you all leave the medical profession -I want to know that there are plenty of skilled and experienced doctors out there!

I recently published a new book ‘Get ready for retirement - how to have a life after work’  You might find it useful if you are wondering about moving on to the next stage of your life. Rev Dr John Clements is an international life coach, professional speaker and author of several books, including, How To Get What Money Can’t Buy, Personal Peace In A World Of Unrest. Fruitful Prospects - Ripe For The Picking wrote to me:”If you want your life to remain mired in mediocrity you certainly should not read Get Ready For Retirement but if you want to transform it then reading this little book is a must.” It’s available from Amazon and http://stores.lulu.com/sekersley

 Time for Doctors If you haven’t already done so you can download a free e-book from http://www.thedoctorscoach.co.uk with a follow up of more time management tips.

Now I’ve put together a downloadable package of more tips about time management for doctors and suggestions for improving your work life balance.For more details please visit http://www.thedoctorscoach.co.uk/timepack.htm4. Keep connected Read my blogs and or tweets on:http://getreadyforretirement.typepad.comFollow me on Twitter :http://twitter.com/susankersleyEvery good wish for the Festive Season and for a very Happy New Year

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11/12/2008 by Susan E Kersley.

I was a patient at the beginning of December and it was a somewhat surreal experience. It’s strange when doctors have a doctor as a patient. They are extra careful not to miss anything which means that the doctor-patient  may be subjected to more investigations than maybe necesary. More than that the patient doctor feels obliged to tell all in gory details often quoting form learned journals too!

What I’ve found is that I want to know the facts - but simply. I don’t want to know it all but I want to be reassured that all will be well with me! I want an expert to do my operation, not too old and not too young.

So I no longer have a gall bladder and my surgeon fulfilled all my criteria. Thank you Mr Paul Peysey you did a brilliant job. I was able to celebrate my special birthday just a week later without any millstones  (sorry- gallstones) to worry about!

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10/11/2008 by Susan E Kersley.

If you say you wish you mananged your time more effectively you really mean you mananged your life more effectively.

I think one of the most important questions to ask yourself in almost any situation is, ‘What do you want?’ Because when you are clear about what you want, very specifically, then you can more easily work out how to go about achieving it.

Think about almost any situation when you feel angry or frustrated or challenged and ask yourself that question. Notice how much easier it becomes to know what to do next.

If you are really fed up and think about leaving medicine sometimes, ask yourself ‘what do you want?’ Do you really want to get out completely or do you want to change something in your day to free up time to do some things you really want to do?

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09/08/2008 by Susan E Kersley.

I couldn’t understand why my latest blog posts never appeared on the front page of this blog. Then I looked up the FAQ support section for word press and fund out what settings to change. Problem solved!A doctor, GP,  feels stressed especially on emergency call days. We discuss various simple ways to reduce her stress. What works best? Stopping caffeine! Sometimes when you tell your patients ways to do things you may forget to take your own advice.Ask or seek help and you may find the solution is simpler than you thought it would be.Other things you can do to feel calmer? In between seeing patients, take a 30 second time out while you take a long slow breath in, breathing in relaxation and a slow breath out as you breathe out any tension. What helps you to be less stressed when you are doing a busy surgery? Please add your comments to the blog  and let others know what helps. 

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23/07/2008 by Susan E Kersley.

Summer is here at last and the school holidays have arrived!  How long does it take you to letthe stress of medical work drift away with the ebb and flow of the tide? As you relax in the sunshine can you let yourself really enjoy your days away from it all. Really nurture yourself. Not just  your body as you eat good nutricious foods and exercise more each day, but also give your mind a holiday too by reading a novel or two. Your spirit needs nurturing too at this time. Enjoy the countryside, appreciate your surroundings wherever you are.

Imagine you are a small child and be playful, laugh and have fun.  And when it’s time to return to your day to day life, you’ll be able to recall those lovely moments whenever  you are fed up with work, when a patient complains or your heart sinks when ‘you know who’ comes into the room.

Just take a second or two and re-connect with the joyful holiday feeling and let the stress just wash out of you with your breath. Take the ‘essence’ of your holiday back home with you and use a ‘drop or two’ just by closing your eyes for a moment and remembering your holiday.

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08/07/2008 by Susan E Kersley.

Do you wonder who to turn to when you are at a crossroads in your life?What can you do to make your life more organised and less stressful?  Take some ‘time out’ and ask yourself some questions.  Find a quiet place and sit down with a notebook and pen.Before you write anything be aware of any areas of tension in your body.Close your eyes as you breathe out and release the tension. Then with your eyes still closed ask yourself, ‘What do I want?’Notice that your first answer may be termed in negatives about what you don’t want! Jot these down on one side of the page then on the other side  re-phrase what you wrote into a positive statement.For example ‘I don’t want to feel so exhausted all the time’ could be re-phrased into ‘I have enough energy to do all the things I have to do.’  ’All the things you ‘have to do”?  Perhaps you could examine what you mean by ‘have to’ do.  When you want more energy and more time it’s useful to re-assess how you spend your time and energy now.Maybe you don’t ‘have to’ do all you are now doing. What could you stop doing? What could you ask someone else to do? What could you do more efficiently?

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08/07/2008 by Susan E Kersley.

Susan E Kersley is a Life Coach to doctors. She was a doctor for thirty years who retired early and became a Life Coach.Author of Prescription for Change- for doctors who want a Life, and ABC of Change for Doctors http://www.thedoctorscoach.co.uk 

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