The Art of Doing Less: A London GP's Path to Work-Life Harmony

In a recent conversation with one of my clients, Dr Sue, a dedicated GP in London, she shared a profound yet simple insight:

"Tell them that they are doing too much!"

Her journey from overwhelmed physician to balanced professional offers valuable lessons for anyone struggling with work-life harmony.

The Paradox of Productivity

As a GP managing a bustling practice in London, Dr Sue's days were once filled with an endless stream of patient consultations, medication reviews, clinical correspondence and administrative tasks.

Like many healthcare professionals, she believed being a "good doctor" meant handling everything personally.

Her typical day started at 7:30 AM with paperwork and often stretched well into the evening, leaving little time for family or self-care.

A Breakthrough Decision

The turning point came when we identified that Dr Sue was spending up to 10 hours weekly on medication reviews and prescription renewals – tasks that didn't necessarily require a GP's expertise.

Through the Harmony System, we helped her make a pivotal decision: hiring a clinical pharmacist to join her practice.

Here's how this strategic change transformed her practice:

1. The clinical pharmacist now handles:

?? - Routine medication reviews

?? - Prescription renewals

?? - Patient consultations for medication-related issues

?? - Chronic disease monitoring

?? - Medication optimisation reviews

?

2. Dr Sue reclaimed over 10 hours weekly, which she now dedicates to:

?? - Complex patient cases requiring her specific expertise

?? - Professional development

?? - Quality time with her family

?? - Self-care activities that prevent burnout

?The Power of Essential Priorities

Through our work together, Dr Sue learned to:

1. Identify her true priorities as a GP, focusing on cases where her expertise made the most impact

2. Create boundaries by establishing clear office hours and emergency protocols

3. Delegate effectively, not just to her pharmacist but to her entire practice team

4. Let go of the guilt associated with not handling every aspect of patient care personally

The results were remarkable. Not only did patient satisfaction remain high, but it actually improved as patients received more specialised attention from both Dr Sue and the clinical pharmacist.

Waiting times for medication reviews decreased by 40%, and the practice's efficiency metrics significantly improved.

Making the Shift

Dr Sue's experience revealed a crucial truth: doing less doesn't mean caring less. In fact, by streamlining her responsibilities and focusing on her core expertise, she enhanced the quality of care she provided.

Her practice became a model of efficient healthcare delivery while maintaining the personal touch that makes general practice so valuable.

Some specific improvements included:

- Reducing her workday from 12+ hours to a more manageable 8-9 hours

- Establishing protected time for complex cases

- Creating a sustainable on-call rotation system

- Implementing dedicated slots for emergency appointments

- Having time to mentor junior colleagues

Your Path Forward

Consider Dr Sue's transformation as you reflect on your professional journey. She went from being a GP who tried to do it all to a more effective leader who:

- Leveraged team expertise

- Focused on high-impact activities

- Maintained clinical excellence while preserving personal well-being

- Created systems that benefited both staff and patients

Remember Dr. Sue's words: You're probably doing too much if you feel overwhelmed.

The path to harmony isn't about finding ways to do more—it's about having the courage to do less but better.

The Ripple Effect

Perhaps most importantly, Dr Sue's transformation had a ripple effect throughout her practice.

Team morale improved as responsibilities were distributed more effectively, and patients benefited from access to additional specialised care.

Her story demonstrates that when we let go of the need to do everything ourselves, we create space for others to contribute their expertise while allowing ourselves to excel in our most important roles.

Want to learn more about how the Harmony System can help you achieve a better work-life balance? Let's connect and discuss your journey to professional harmony. Whether you're a healthcare professional or a leader in another field, the principles that transformed Dr Sue's practice can be adapted to your unique situation.

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