Master Time Management, Set Boundaries in Your Surgical Career

In the demanding world of surgery, time often feels like a scarce resource. Between clinical responsibilities, administrative tasks, and personal commitments, it’s easy to fall into a cycle of overwork and burnout. Effective time management and boundary setting are essential for sustaining a career.

Surgeons face unique pressures: unpredictable schedules, high-stakes decisions, and the emotional weight of patient care. Without clear boundaries, professional obligations can spill into personal life, eroding well-being and performance.

However, there are strategies that surgeons should consider to support a healthy balance of professional responsibilities and wellbeing.

• Prioritize with purpose: Identify your top three priorities each day. Use tools like time-blocking to protect focus for critical tasks.
• Set clear boundaries: Communicate availability to colleagues and patients. Protect personal time as fiercely as OR time.
• Leverage delegation: Trust your team. Delegating non-essential tasks frees you to focus on what only you can do.
• Schedule recovery: Rest isn’t optional—it’s a professional responsibility. Build downtime into your calendar.

Boundaries and time management aren’t signs of weakness—they’re strategies for excellence. By protecting your time, you protect your patients, your practice, and yourself.

For more tips and recommendations for managing the ebb and flow of professional and personal life, listen to this interview with Sharmila Disannaike, MD, FACS, from the ACS Women in Surgery Committee’s “What I Wish I Knew” video series.