Ah, burnout! That word is used so often in medicine that it now has its own ICD-10 code.
Medical professionals are no strangers to pushing beyond exhaustion, running on fumes, and convincing ourselves that a steady IV drip of caffeine and sheer willpower is an appropriate substitute for sleep.
I should know—I lived it. I was running a busy medical practice, managing over a dozen staff members, physicians, and allied health professionals while raising little people (my own, not my patients’), with minimal support (thanks, COVID-19, for that colossal fallout). I did everything I was supposed to do. Hustle. Grind. Be “available.” Sacrifice.
And guess what? It nearly broke me.
Redefining burnout: It’s not what they told you
When I gave my TEDx talk, Redefining Burnout: And It’s Not What They Told You, I challenged the traditional definition of burnout. It’s not just exhaustion. It’s a system failure. It’s what happens when the expectations placed on you become so unrealistic that no amount of resilience, mindfulness, or yoga can fix it.
In medicine, we pretend we’re ironclad, but let’s be real—we’re more like the Cybertruck: Promised to be indestructible, yet somehow shattering under pressure on live television.
The grueling medical work ethic existed long before Elon Musk’s hustle culture emerged. We used to ride on horseback and buggy, going from home to home, spread far and thin, treating the sick with nothing but a black bag and a prayer. The briefcase that once symbolized the physician has now been replaced by fast laptops with Wi-Fi speeds, handling virtual visits, overbooked patient schedules, and an EHR system that makes us question our life choices.
We’re expected to be superheroes without the invincibility cloak—working 14-hour shifts, buried under paperwork, handling patient loads that defy logic, and somehow balancing a personal life (whatever that is).
And if we dare to speak up? We hear the same tired responses:
“You knew what you signed up for.”
“Doctors have always worked long hours.”
“Maybe you just need to be more resilient.”
Resilient? I ran a full practice, managed staff, kept a household running, and raised children through a global pandemic. I was the human equivalent of a high-functioning Tesla battery—fine on the outside, but one bad spark away from bursting into flames.
The false heroism of the “Tesla work ethic”
Somewhere along the way, medicine started glorifying suffering. Working insane hours didn’t start with Musk—it’s been baked into medical culture since the days of house calls. But instead of evolving toward a healthier, more sustainable system, we just swapped the horse and buggy for overcrowded hospitals, endless admin work, and burnout on an industrial scale.
Sure, in some cases, it’s understandable. If you’re a surgeon in the middle of a 12-hour case, or an ER doc knee-deep in trauma patients, you don’t have the luxury of a lunch break, let alone a whole night’s sleep.
But what about everyone else—those of us grinding through never-ending patient lists, dealing with staff shortages, and trying to keep up with an EHR system designed by someone who hates doctors?
The “Tesla recall” physician – You’re functioning on so little sleep that your decision-making skills should come with a warning label.
The “spontaneous combustion” specialist – You used to care about patient outcomes, now you’re just trying not to burst into flames.
The “autopilot failure” attending – You’re so burned out that you walk into the wrong OR and don’t even realize it.
And for what? Bragging rights? Even Tesla sales are down. Maybe it’s time we stop idolizing a work model that doesn’t even work.
How I, Dr. Tomi Mitchell, found my off-ramp from burnout
There came a point when I had to make a choice:
Keep running on empty and let burnout consume me.
Or finally prioritize my health, sanity, and dreams.
It wasn’t an easy decision. Walking away from the chaos of a full practice, a toxic work culture, and constant demands felt like the hardest thing I’d ever done. But when I finally did, I discovered something radical: Balance.
And let me tell you, I look and feel so much better now. It turns out that the real fountain of youth isn’t just Botox (though Botox might not be a bad idea). It’s setting boundaries, getting your life in order, and refusing to let a broken system break you.
There’s actual research backing this up. Studies show that physicians who prioritize work-life balance live longer and are also better doctors (Sermo, 2024). Burnout leads to higher medical errors, reduced patient satisfaction, and increased physician turnover.
So why are we still glorifying suffering?
Breaking free from the dumpster fire of burnout
We must stop pretending that working ourselves into the ground is the only way to succeed in medicine.
Quality > quantity – Working 80+ hours a week doesn’t make you a better doctor. It just makes you a more tired one.
Boundaries save lives – If we keep neglecting our own well-being, how can we expect to take care of others?
Work smarter, not just harder – Efficiency, delegation, and tech can be tools, not just another headache.
Your life matters too – Being a great physician shouldn’t mean sacrificing everything else.
Do you want to be a well-oiled, high-performing machine—or a smouldering wreck on the side of the road?
Because burnout isn’t ironclad, and neither are we.
Tomi Mitchell is a board-certified family physician and certified health and wellness coach with extensive experience in clinical practice and holistic well-being. She is also an acclaimed international keynote speaker and a passionate advocate for mental health and physician well-being. She leverages over a decade of private practice experience to drive meaningful change.
Dr. Mitchell is the founder of Holistic Wellness Strategies, where she empowers individuals through comprehensive, evidence-based approaches to well-being. Her career is dedicated to transforming lives by addressing personal challenges and enhancing relationships with practical, holistic strategies.
Connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and book a discovery call to explore how she can support your wellness journey. For those interested in purchasing her book, please click here for the payment link. Check out her YouTube channel for more insights and valuable content on mental health and well-being.
