I started my career in medicine with the same noble intentions that many physicians share—to help and care for people. But like so many of my colleagues, I quickly found myself consumed by a broken system.
Three years into my medical career, I was an overwhelmed family doctor in a small town, juggling urgent care, inpatient care, and seeing 40 patients a day—spending the typical average of just seven minutes with each. I diagnosed, prescribed, and moved on. Meanwhile, I myself was overweight, pre-diabetic, deeply fatigued, and had been self-medicating with SSRIs to manage panic attacks since residency. Looking back, it’s clear that I was burned out, disconnected, and unfulfilled, unable to provide the care I knew my patients deserved. But at the time, I was too close to the issue, too blind—or perhaps too stubborn—to acknowledge this reality.
The thing is, I was leading the life of a conventional doctor. I operated a busy practice and was positioned to follow the standard model for a physician’s success. But my path to discovering that it didn’t have to be this way came by accident. What had originally started as an effort to lose some weight in the hopes of feeling better turned into an entire reconstruction of my view on health—not just for my patients, but more importantly, for myself.
This major transformation began by educating myself, starting with Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma, and applying the principles of eating whole foods. Within six months, I lost 50 pounds. More than that, I reveled in improved energy, a better mood, and a newfound mental clarity. I traded the medications for nutrient support. For the first time in years, I felt great.
If this one adjustment to my diet solved a multitude of issues and could have such a profound impact for me, I wondered what other lifestyle changes could bring.
As physicians, we are taught to keep pushing through no matter what, but how does a machine keep running if there’s nothing left in the tank? And even when we are encouraged to practice self-care or find a good work-life balance, that can feel impossible given the constraints of our day-to-day practices—and beyond our control, the overall health care system in which we serve.
Integrative medicine has earned increasing recognition in health care, especially as it reshapes how we approach patient outcomes. In fact, research on integrative medicine has doubled over the past decade, reflecting its value in addressing complex health needs. For me, it’s the only method I’ve found that truly cured my own burnout as a physician. Could integrative, whole-person care be the panacea to living happier, healthier, more fulfilling lives?
Studies continue to demonstrate how a healthy lifestyle—led by a balanced diet, sufficient exercise, and emotional well-being—can prevent disease and improve health. Yet, despite all the evidence, many don’t find ways to prioritize these habits—including health care professionals, who as a group largely face burnout, emotional exhaustion, and detachment today. The reality is, in the high-stress, fast-paced environments we work in, it’s tough to fully embrace these practices, even when we know they can help.
What my journey has taught me is that you have to put your own mask on first before effectively helping others. I had spent so long caring for patients without truly caring for myself. I couldn’t find fulfillment in the care I provided because I wasn’t fulfilled in my own life. To care for others, you need to care for yourself.
Health is about vitality. It’s about our relationships and our connections, beyond those with our patients. It’s about listening to our bodies and understanding the root causes of why we might not feel our best, instead of just addressing the symptoms. When was the last time you truly explored what’s behind your well-being?
These changes may not be convenient, but neither are burnout, chronic stress, and all of the other symptoms that come along with it.
We already have so much complexity in our lives, so I’ll make this simple:
Nutrition. Prioritize whole foods as much as you can. Think of food as one of the most powerful tools for maintaining and restoring health. By focusing on nutrient-dense meals, you’re giving your body the fuel it needs to prevent illness.
Movement. Whether it’s going to the gym or going for a walk—keep your body moving. Schedule and commit to staying active with a calendar; it’s critical.
Mindfulness. Beginning a daily meditation practice is daunting and takes time to incorporate into a hectic routine. To start, just observe the world, however frequently you can remember to do so, and breathe deeply. Observe how people move, the sounds around you, the thoughts that pop into your mind during the day (don’t be alarmed, there’s a lot).
And then there’s sleep. Sleep is the foundation that these three pillars stand on. Protect your sleep like the precious thing it is. Without it, moving beyond burnout is nearly impossible.
While being faced with a long list of things to change may seem daunting, for me, what once felt like an impossible dream—moving beyond burnout and reclaiming my life—was made possible by small, intentional steps. It also meant rethinking the status quo and shifting from simply treating symptoms to treating myself as a whole person. This shift in perspective has completely changed the way I deliver patient care as well, and I see the benefits daily in how my patients themselves are leading healthier and happier lives, too.
You have the power to transform your health, practice, and life—and ultimately, your journey to reclaiming your passion and vitality is uniquely yours. For me, however, it helped to remind myself why I chose this career path in the first place—to help and care for people. And yes, that includes me.
Jeffrey Gladd is a family physician.
