Ending Physician Overwhelm
I'm Megan Melo, board-certified Family and Obesity Medicine Physician and Physician Coach. In this podcast we talk about the many ways that burnout shows up in our lives, and what we can do about it. I'm on a mission to help Physicians take steps towards to heal burnout by unlearning the habits of perfectionism, people-pleasing and limiting beliefs so that we can lead healthier, happier lives. The healthcare system is broken; but you don't have to wait until it's fixed to feel better. I'm here to help. Thank you for tuning in! Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Until next time, take care. Connect with me: Website: www.healthierforgood.com Instagram: @MeganMeloMD Email: megan@healthierforgood.com Bookshop.org Book Shop: https://bookshop.org/shop/meganmelo
Episodes
What You'll Learn
Life doesn't pause for your perfect plans. Whether it's a scary diagnosis, staffing changes, or family emergencies, curveballs are coming. But here's what we don't talk about enough: how to navigate these storms with self-compassion instead of burning yourself out trying to hustle through everything.
In this episode, we're diving deep into four powerful strategies that wil...
Stop Playing Around and Start Making AI Work FOR You
If you're still on the fence about AI tools, or you've tried them and felt frustrated, this episode is for you. We're talking about how to actually use these tools to make your life easier—not add another complicated task to your already overwhelming day.
What We Talk About
- The three non-negotiable rules for using AI tools effectively (and why thinki...
Recorded from the car on a Monday morning because sometimes life doesn't wait for perfect circumstances - and that's exactly the point.
When Crisis Hits Close to Home
This is a different kind of episode. Raw, real, and recorded in the midst of what I'm calling a "semi-urgent medical crisis" in my family. You know the kind - not a code blue emergency, but the agonizing wait for test results, appo...
Welcome to another edition of Ending Physician Overwhelm - this time recorded from the car because life happens, and we roll with it.
The Question That Changes Everything
When we talk about cutting back on work or reducing FTE, we often focus on what we want less of. But here's what we miss: What do we actually want MORE of?
This episode dives deep into a conversation I had with a coaching client who was looking to ...
The Wearable Device That Could Change Everything for Physicians
What if there was a way to get objective, real-time data about how your lifestyle choices are actually affecting your health? Not just a random cortisol test that tells you nothing actionable, but continuous monitoring that could force you to confront the truth about how you're treating your body?
In this special car edition episode, we dive into my mi...
Finding Your Path to Alignment: The Antidote to Physician Burnout
Are you feeling stuck in a perpetual slog, wondering where your passion for medicine went? You're not alone, and there's a powerful principle that can help guide you back to a place of purpose and energy.
In this episode, we explore the concept of alignment—a state of living and making decisions that honors your core values, leverages your uniqu...
Rules? Who Me?
Hello my friends! Today we're diving into those self-imposed rules that might be governing your life and keeping you stuck in patterns of overwhelm. From the seemingly trivial (must shave legs before wearing shorts) to the deeply consequential (always putting yourself last), these internalized rules often lead us to burnout, exhaustion, and disconnection from what truly matters.
Key Takeaways
- Iden...
Ever find yourself busy all day yet feeling like you've accomplished nothing? You're not alone. As physicians, we face an overwhelming number of interruptions in our day - many of which didn't exist even a few years ago.
What You'll Learn:
- Why constant interruptions are destroying your focus and productivity
- How to set clear, kind boundaries with staff and colleagues
- Why multitasking is actually pr...
Today we talk about the negative internal dialogue that plays in our heads and how it impacts our wellbeing and performance. This episode explores:
- How negative self-talk becomes our default "soundtrack" - especially during challenging moments
- Why our brains are naturally wired for negativity (an evolutionary safety mechanism)
- How high-achieving professionals often internalize harsh critical voices from tea...
Today we're talking about energy management and why it's our responsibility to manage our own energy levels.
Key Points:
- Two of my physician clients shared calling out sick as weekly wins in coaching sessions – highlighting how we're trained to always put patient care first, often at our own expense
- Energy management is each of our personal responsibility, and no one else can see our energy levels or t...
Today we talk about the concept of "unsubscribing" – not just from email newsletters, but from the thoughts, beliefs, and habits that no longer serve us as physicians.
Episode Highlights:
- We celebrate 3 years of "Ending Physician Overwhelm" (launched March 2022)
- Unsubscribe from harmful ideas and beliefs:
- The belief that we should be able to function in a broken healthcare system without suppor...
This week, we talk about the significant changes happening in medicine that aren't likely to reverse, and how we as physicians need to adapt to navigate these shifts effectively.
Episode Highlights:
- The Reality of Job Insecurity in Medicine
- Stories of experienced physicians being let go with little warning
- How healthcare organizations are prioritizing budget over experience and loyalty
- Why the long-term stabil...
In this episode, we explore the neurotransmitters that make up the acronym DOSE - Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Epinephrine - and how they affect our daily lives and well-being.
Episode Highlights:
- Dopamine: The Pleasure & Reward Neurotransmitter
- Evolved to reinforce behaviors that help us survive as individuals and as a species
- Modern hijacking through engineered experiences (processed foods, social...
I explore how to find and create meaning in both our professional and personal lives, especially when facing burnout and challenges in medicine.
Episode Highlights
- Medicine was never meant to be easy, but the additional challenges we face today make self-care more important than ever
- When experiencing burnout, we often lose our sense of meaning and purpose in work
- Creating meaning is a challenge of adulthood that requ...
Ever have a moment where you suddenly realize you've slipped back into old thought patterns? In this episode, we dive into what happens when those default ways of thinking return - and how to move past them without getting stuck.
When Old Thought Patterns Come Knocking
After my emergency surgery for a perforated IUD (yes, really!), I found myself sliding back into victim mode thinking - feeling angry about missing ...
In today’s episode, I share a personal medical experience that taught me lessons about self-advocacy, trusting intuition, and seeking help - lessons that apply both personally and professionally in medical practice.
Episode Highlights
- My recent experience with an IUD placement that resulted in a perforation of my uterus, requiring laparoscopic surgery
- The importance of honoring your initial decisions about your ...
Fresh off our exciting kickoff for the second round of Unbound, we're diving into something that affects nearly every physician - why we struggle to work less, even when we desperately want to. Let's explore the mindsets keeping us stuck in overwork mode!
The Hidden Beliefs Blocking Our Path
Have you ever had a free day suddenly open up in your schedule? Instead of treating it as actual free time, chances are ...
Life in medicine is intense right now, especially in early 2025. In this episode, we're diving into six essential elements that can help us not just survive, but thrive during challenging times. Whether you're looking to join our Unbound physician community or just trying to figure out how to make medicine work better in your life, these are game-changers.
The Big Six (Yes, They Really Matter!)
- Community W...
Episode Summary:
If cynicism has been creeping in lately, you’re not alone. As physicians, we’re constantly navigating uncertainty—whether it’s within healthcare, in our personal lives, or in the world around us. Over time, this can lead to emotional exhaustion, frustration, and a sense of futility.
In this episode, we’re diving into 10 intentional ways to combat cynicism before it takes over. These are practical s...
In this episode of Ending Physician Overwhelm, we explore a question that can feel deeply uncomfortable—maybe even confrontational: Who do you think you are?
For so many of us, this question has been used to silence us. To keep us in line. To make us doubt ourselves. Whether it was a parent, a mentor, a patient, or the healthcare system itself, we’ve been conditioned to second-guess our worth and our right to take up s...
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