Three ways to nurture the family in family medicine

Your well-being is affected by not only the quality of your workplace but also the quality of your family life. Here are three ways physicians can protect family well-being.

1. Be intentional. Creating time for family members to meaningfully connect must be purposeful — particularly for those in demanding professions like medicine. Make it a priority, and schedule it regularly.

2. Set boundaries around screen time, not only for kids but also for yourself. Technology has its plusses, but the downside is that work can be conducted around the clock, and screens can become a convenient way to distract children. Create new digital habits for your family, such as device-free dinners or unplugged family time in the evenings.

3. Have a conversation about family well-being. You’ve probably done a “SWOT” analysis in your work life. Try a SWOT analysis as a family, with the following prompts:

• Strengths: What do we love about our family? What do we do well to care for each other?
• Weaknesses: What could we do better to understand and support one another as a family?
• Opportunities: What could we try doing to make us more connected as a family?
• Threats: What negatively impacts or limits our family's well-being?

Read the full FPM article: “Protecting Family Well-Being Through Social Connectivity and Time Management.”