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The Myth Of Work-Life Balance | Ep3
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Balance isn’t about managing your time perfectly. It’s about giving yourself permission to live fully. Dr. Michael Hersh gets real about the myth of work-life balance and why it often falls short of reality. With honesty and insight, he explains how medicine seeps into every corner of life, making separation nearly impossible. Rather than trying to extract “life” from an already blended identity, Dr. Hersh offers a refreshing reframe: stop chasing balance and start embracing alignment.
He walks us through how guilt, outdated definitions of success, and rigid expectations create a cycle of self-criticism and how small, intentional shifts can begin to reverse that. Through stories, metaphors (yes, including chocolate milk), and questions for reflection, this episode reminds listeners that you don’t need perfect boundaries or flawless systems. You need grace, presence, and values-based choices.
Whether you’re managing inboxes on vacation or struggling with missing moments at home, this episode offers a compassionate, real-world roadmap to redefining what balance actually means.
Top 3 Takeaways
- Shrink the Goal – If sweeping lifestyle changes feel impossible, start smaller. Even five minutes of intentional space can rebuild trust with yourself.
- Focus on Alignment, Not Perfection – Balance isn’t about equal time for everything. It’s about giving what matters most your best attention in that moment.
- Reclaim Grace – You don’t need to earn rest or joy. Show yourself the same compassion you give your patients and your family.
About the Show:
Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.
About the Host
Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.
His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.
Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.
🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:
🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md
📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife
📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching
TikTok: @betterphysicianlife
The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions.
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