Dont Stress Over Work, It Really Is Just a Job - The Muse

Dont Stress Over Work, It Really Is Just a Job - The MuseDont Stress Over Work, It Really Is Just a JobCalm down, youre not saving lives.Thats probably what you hear from unhelpful friends when you humblebrag about how much you have to do at work or how stressed you are. And you cant really argue against it. We all know doctors are the ultimate symbol of hard work- they put in long, grueling hurs, they make huge sacrifices, and they face some of the hardest decisions and circumstances on a daily basis.But even they understand that theres a limit to how much you give to your job. In a recent LinkedIn article, Louis M. Profeta, an emergency physician, makes a telling statement to all workers, even people in his own field Its just a job.Yes, you read those four words correctly. He believes that no matter what you do, no matter how important your job seems, it shouldnt define who you are Even though I prefaced it during my talk by elaborating and saying that medicine is a deeply rewardin g career choice, I insisted that its not our life. I tried to express that its simply a wonderful, marvelous, and mystical avenue to allow us the opportunity to pursue meaningful work, make a good living, support our families, and to do a job that allows us to see and do many magical things.As Muse founder and COO Alex Cavoulacos says, we live in a world that glorifies tiredness as a badge of honor, while if youre sleeping instead of working, well you might as well be a soulless corporate drone with no understanding what it means to be passionate about what you do.But measuring our success in how much sleep we miss, how much emotional turmoil we experience, or how much of ourselves we give up for our jobs is not only wrong- its unhealthy. Sure, you should be passionate about your job, but at what cost? Profeta emphasizes to colleagues in his field that they dont have to suffer for the sake of their patients Our role is to be there, provide comfort, alleviate suffering, listen, and b e engaged. We dont have to feel every bit of it viscerally, but certainly there will be times where we truly connect and we will. But its also OK when we dont.Similarly, we dont have to put all of our energy and passion all the time into our careers. Its normal to have days where youre just not feeling it. Its important to take time off when needed to prevent yourself from burning out. And, its important to prioritize things such as spending time with loved ones or staying active and healthy over your career.The point? Its OK to be selfish and take care of yourself- even as a doctor- if it means youll ultimately do better work as a result.Photo of person working hard courtesy of Geber86/Getty Images.