Finding and doing what matters most: Five productivity strategies for physicians in academic medicine

While structural change is needed to address the burnout epidemic among healthcare workers, it is important for physicians to avail themselves of the many productivity strategies that can help them succeed in navigating the multiple responsibilities of academic medicine. We present here 5 key strategies within our control that can help increase productivity in the pursuit of work in academic medicine that is meaningful and sustainable: (1) Clarify Priorities, (2) Track Tasks Systematically, (3) Focus and Monotask, (4) Invest in Timesavers, and (5) Celebrate Successes. The specific tools listed under each strategy may help academic physicians feel grounded and maintain our focus on doing meaningful work. While system-wide culture change around expectations, and institutional support for physician wellbeing, is more critical than ever, individual physicians can still benefit from learning strategies to prioritize, track, focus on, delegate and celebrate the work that matters to us in our lives.