In the current healthcare climate, there is much emphasis on improving physician productivity. In radiology, better technology, streamlined workflow, and relative value unit (RVU) reporting have been adopted to aid in efficiency.
Then, there is the human factor. It is a general cultural belief that harder work and longer hours are the keys to increased productivity. Some groups have installed real-time monitoring systems to ensure they are getting the best out of their employees.
Many radiologists eat at their desks with minimal breaks during the day to keep up with the workload and conform to expectations. Even when the caseload is light, some hesitate to leave their workstations due to their desire to be considered team players and dedicated staff.
Dr. Stacey Funt.The science, however, backs the counterintuitive notion that the best way to increase productivity and minimize errors is to take regular breaks.
Prolonged, focused sitting in front of a computer is tiring. Without taking breaks, we become drained both physically and emotionally. We also become more prone to negative thoughts and mental distractions, which can lead to worse performance. Multiple studies have shown that taking quick and efficient recovery breaks can restore our focus, improve our mental health, and bring us back to full capacity.
In the book The Power of Full Engagement, authors Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz discuss quick and efficient recovery rituals used by professional athletes to enhance strength, precision, and endurance. This can make all the difference in propelling performance to the master level. The concept of short breaks has been studied in the workplace and the same holds true. Work breaks serve as recovery phenomena to restore depleted resources necessary to complete tasks at hand.
Yet, exchanging one demanding activity for another will not suffice. These breaks need to be nontaxing and enjoyable. John Trougakos and Ivona Hideg call these "respite activities," as described in "Momentary work recovery: The role of within-day work breaks."
Different models for optimum work breaks have been proposed. The Pomodoro technique promotes intense work for 25 minutes followed by a five-minute break. This would be tough to follow as a radiologist.
However, other models such as the 90-minute work block may be entertained. This is based on cyclical patterns within the body. Just as our bodies have 24-hour circadian rhythms, physiologist Nathaniel Kleitman discovered that we also have natural shorter cycles of basic rest and activity called "ultradian rhythms."
After about 80 to 120 minutes, our energy levels start to wane and we need rest to recover. If we ignore this cycle, we activate the sympathetic nervous system to draw on stress hormones or use artificial substances such as caffeine and excess sugar to try to sustain our energy. Honoring our body rhythm and taking a short break may naturally improve our energy level, speed, and concentration.
Are you skeptical? Try it and see how it affects not only your productivity but also your job satisfaction and health.
How can you get in short breaks during your day? What can you do for an appropriate pleasurable diversion to rejuvenate at work? Here are just a few suggestions:
- Go for a short walk.
- Stand up and talk with a colleague.
- Get some tea or a healthy snack.
- Try some belly breaths (deep breathing using your abdominal muscles).
- Look at photos of puppies or other baby animals. This may sound bizarre, but a 2012 Japanese study by Hiroshi Nittono, PhD, and colleagues in PLOS One showed how viewing these photos can help narrow focus.
- Surf the Web. A 2009 study by Vivien Kim and Don Chen in Behaviour and Information Technology actually showed that Internet browsing can serve an important restorative function. Just watch the time and be aware of your institution's policies. Of note, checking email, which is cognitively more demanding and not always as enjoyable, did not have the same effect. In the study, Internet browsing was considered a pleasurable activity, so visiting news sites with stressful stories may not count as well.
If you can't get in a short break every 90 minutes, even an extra break in the morning and the afternoon may help. Giving your best at work and taking care of yourself do not have to be mutually exclusive.
Dr. Stacey Funt is a part-time radiologist, coach, speaker, and founder of Lifestyle Health. She can be contacted at Lifestyle-health.net or [email protected].
The comments and observations expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of AuntMinnie.com.
