“I Don’t Have the Bandwidth”: How Physicians Can Slow Down and Create Space in Their Career with Dr. Moe | Ep36 cover art

“I Don’t Have the Bandwidth”: How Physicians Can Slow Down and Create Space in Their Career with Dr. Moe | Ep36

“I Don’t Have the Bandwidth”: How Physicians Can Slow Down and Create Space in Their Career with Dr. Moe | Ep36

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 What if the "just how it is" fatigue in your practice isn't permanent, but a signal to shift without abandoning what you love? In this empowering episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh welcomes Dr. Maureen Gibbons, a former emergency medicine nocturnist turned virtual lifestyle medicine pioneer and author of Freedom to Shift. Sharing her journey from 15 years of night shifts to a soul-nourishing multi-state practice, Dr. Moe reveals why bandwidth creates white space for reflection, how to audit energy drains, and strategies to downshift a revved-up nervous system, all while staying clinically engaged. Ideal for physicians sensing unsustainability but fearing change, this conversation offers hope, exercises, and permission to redesign without anyone else's permission. Top 3 Takeaways Create Bandwidth for White Space: Mid-career fatigue often stems from a lack of margin. Dr. Moe shares how a simple one-week "vital metric review" that tracks energy restorers vs. drainers, uncovers hidden overloads, like trying to cram 32 hours of activities into a 24-hour day, and helps physicians make small, practical adjustments that restore breathing room without blowing up their careers. Embrace Active Rest to Reset Your Nervous System: For busy brains, passive downtime can feel torturous. Opt for "active rest," such as light reading or guided activities, to unwind without boredom. Dr. Moe explains feeling her system shift post-EM (e.g., enjoying thrill rides again) and urges physicians to notice when "I can handle it" masks wired-for-hustle habits, then experiment with fluff novels or family "rest weeks."Shift Identity Without Losing Your Doctor Self: You don't have to leave medicine to evolve. Dr. Moe's story shows that translating EM skills to coaching and lifestyle medicine preserved her clinical core while adding wisdom. Challenge: List three non-fleeting interests (what you rave about at dinner), pick one to explore, and remember: No permission needed to drop a shift or tweak your model for sustainability. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Guest: Dr. Maureen (Moe) Gibbons, MD, CISSN, is a former emergency medicine nocturnist turned virtual lifestyle medicine pioneer. With 15 years in high-volume trauma care, she pivoted after recognizing burnout's toll, including a stress-linked cardiovascular diagnosis, to launch Active Medical Solutions, a multi-state telehealth practice. A serial entrepreneur, triathlete (7 Ironmans), and coach. Her book Freedom to Shift guides mid-career physicians toward sustainable reinvention, nervous system resets, and white space for joy without leaving medicine. Book: Freedom to SHIFT Website: https://amslifestylemedicine.com Instagram: @drmoegibbons About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching 📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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