The Energy Audit: Finding What Drains You and What Fuels You
Not All Hours Are Created Equal
You already know you're busy. That's not news. But here's something most academic physicians haven't stopped to notice: some of your work hours leave you wired and engaged, and others leave you hollowed out. The tasks that drain you aren't always the ones you'd expect.
An energy audit makes the invisible pattern visible.
How to Do It
For one week, keep a simple log. After each major activity -- patient care, a committee meeting, writing, teaching, admin work -- jot down two things. What you did, and how you felt afterward. Use a basic scale: energized, neutral, or drained.
That's it. No complicated spreadsheet. A notes app works fine. The only rule is honesty. Don't write what you think you should feel. Write what you actually feel.
What You'll Probably Find
Most physicians discover a few surprises.
The drain isn't where you think it is. You might assume clinical care is what's exhausting you. But when you track it, you realize it's the two hours of inbox management afterward that's doing the real damage. Or the meeting that could have been an email. The audit separates the actual culprits from the assumed ones.
Some tasks give back more than they take. A mentoring conversation. A complex case that challenges you. Teaching a resident who's genuinely curious. These moments aren't just tolerable -- they're fuel. And most physicians don't have nearly enough of them in their week.
What to Do With the Data
Once you have a week of entries, look for the pattern. What's consistently draining? What's consistently energizing? Then ask a harder question: can you shift the ratio?
You probably can't eliminate every draining task. But you might be able to batch them differently, delegate one or two, or schedule an energizing activity right after a known drain. Small shifts in structure can change how an entire week feels.
The goal isn't a perfect calendar. It's awareness. Once you see the pattern, you stop blaming yourself for being tired and start redesigning your days around what actually works.
If you want help making sense of your energy audit or figuring out what to change first, I'd enjoy that conversation. Reach out anytime.
