By Peter G. Shaw-McMinn, OD
Iread AOA Week in Focus recently and noticed the mention of an article published by Business Insider listing optometry as one of the top-paying, least stressful jobs in the US. The article cited an expert who examined hundreds of jobs and ranked optometry in the number 17 slot of all those hundreds of professions. It reminded me of a study by Harvard Kennedy School that showed, despite the public thinking that more responsibility causes more stress, people who actually hold positions of leadership tend to have lower levels of stress, as measured by the stress hormone cortisol and inventory surveys, than those in lower-level positions.
The reason for less stress in positions of high authority was hypothesized to be control. The more you control, the less stress you have. How much control do you have over your life? Can you make changes in your professional situation to allow you more control and the ability to reduce the stress in your practice situation? These are questions to ponder when making decisions.
I heard a lecturer explain how to handle stress. He explained it this way:
If something occurs that you can control, then deal with it directly. If it falls outside your area of control, but you can influence it, then either expand your area of control to include it, or influence the situation as best as you can, and find someone as an ally who has it under their area of control. If it lies outside your area of control and outside your area of influence, don’t worry about it. You can’t do anything anyway unless you can expand your area of influence to it.
Here are two charts that illustrate these concepts of stress management and exercising control over your life:
Next time you feel stressed, consider the above system of analyzing how much is in your control, and then making needed changes. It has helped me through the years. Lying on the beach on a sunny day may help, too!
How do you manage stress so it doesn’t interfere with your patient care or role as practice leader? What measures have you taken to gain greater control over your professional life?
Peter G. Shaw-McMinn, OD, is an assistant professor of Clinical Studies at the Southern California College of Optometry. He is the senior partner of Sun City Vision Center, a group practice including five optometrists. Dr. Shaw-McMinn has served as chairman of the AOA Practice Management Committee and the Association of Practice Management Educators. He was the appointed Benedict Professor in Practice Management for the University of Houston College of Optometry for 2001-2002. To contact: shawmc1@me.com.
