The old conundrum

During a recent workshop on ‘Starting your own practice’, we asked participants to describe their ideal practice. One bravely replied, ‘I envisage having a modern, stress–free practice that runs itself’. Another participant reacted and said, ‘You won’t be having any patients then?’

Much laughter ensued and we then spent a few minutes exploring what was meant by the initial wish and the somewhat cynical response.

Four characteristics were identified, modern, stress-free, running itself and having patients. Are these four mutually exclusive? Are there any obvious reasons why having patients prevents one from running a stress-free practice? Must a practice be stressful?

I do not propose to have a deep, philosophical discussion about good stress and bad stress. However, it is true that many of us function much better when we are stressed to a certain degree and when that stress arises from positive factors of being busy, of feeling that the work that we do is valued, and that our team is performing to the best of its ability.