Dread-Free Vacations
Are you taking any time off this holiday season?
A week or two away from your practice—or even just a few days around Christmas or New Year’s? And if you are, I’m curious: will it truly feel like a vacation? One where you are genuinely unplugged from work and fully present with yourself and the people you love?
If you’re like many of the physicians I coach, there’s a part of you that never really leaves the office. Even while away, your mind drifts to patients, unfinished notes, and the in-basket waiting patiently (or not so patiently) for your return. You may find yourself sneaking away to check messages, catching up on charting, and hoping your family doesn’t notice how divided your attention feels.
One of my coaching clients shared recently that he hopes to spend a little time with his grandchildren this Christmas—in between stretches of charting. At the same time, he finds himself dreading the day he returns to work, even before the holiday has begun.
That landed heavily for me.
Is this what you want your children—or someday your grandchildren—to remember about the holidays you spent together?
I’m not writing this to shame anyone or to suggest you’re doing something wrong. I’ve been there myself. The culture of medicine often rewards constant availability and rarely offers real alternatives. Still, I know—both from my own experience and from the experiences of my clients—that a different reality is possible.
Here are a few practices that have helped transform vacation dread into something closer to vacation presence:
Make a shared commitment within your practice to support truly “dread-free vacations.” This might mean intentionally covering one another’s in-baskets while away. I know teams who take pride in returning their colleague to a cleaner in-basket than when they left.
Lighten your load before you leave. Do whatever you can to protect the last day or two before vacation so you’re not carrying unfinished work with you. Entering a break with a clean desk—literal or metaphorical—can make a real difference.
Plan the re-entry. Reserve and protect either the last day of your vacation or the first day back to catch up on what accumulated while you were away, rather than letting it bleed into your time off.
Advocate for true coverage. Within your team or organization, push for designated covering providers whose sole role is to manage the work of those on vacation.
None of this is easy. Many organizations do a poor job of prioritizing provider support during time away. And yet, I know it can be done.
Ultimately, no matter how thoughtful the logistics, there is also a personal commitment required—the commitment to truly unplug and to be present. Sometimes the most powerful motivation is imagining your children or grandchildren, years from now, remembering the laughter, the connection, and the sense that you were really there.
And perhaps, with time and support, even looking forward—without dread—to your next vacation.
What’s one thing you can do to make your next vacation a little bit more dread-free?
Happy New Year!
Dr. Joe
Pediatrician, Physician Professional Development Coach, Retreat Facilitator
Whether you are facing uncertainty, burnout, seeking direction, or striving for greater fulfillment in your career, know that support is available. If you or someone you know could benefit from coaching, I invite you to reach out. Together, we can explore how to transform challenges into opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Just contact me at joe@joeshermanmd.com or schedule a free video consultation.