One of the biggest struggles with time optimization? Keeping work from taking over your life.
We tell ourselves we have to sacrifice time with family, rest, or that dream vacation just to keep up. And even when we do take a break, our minds stay stuck on work and the never-ending to-do list. Sound familiar?
That’s why I’m so excited to have my dear friend and fellow physician, Dr. Sarah Smith, on the podcast today. Sarah is a Clinical Day Advisor and Charting Coach, and she’s sharing the exact strategies that help busy professionals optimize their workday, leave work on time, and actually enjoy their time off—without sneaking in work at 10 P.M. after everyone else has gone to bed. (We’ve all been there, and it does not feel good.)
In this episode, Sarah and I break down the steps to create a real shift in how you work—so you can stop bringing work home for good. The first step? Noticing—without judgment—why you’re falling behind. Once you recognize the patterns, you can implement practical strategies to leave work on time and actually disconnect—even when you take weeks off.
I know this might seem impossible right now. When you’re overwhelmed, adding one more thing feels daunting. But this shift doesn’t have to happen overnight. We share small, doable changes you can start today, and when you take that first step and keep adjusting, you’ll see just how possible this transformation really is.
Let’s do this! 🎧
About Dr. Sarah Smith
Dr. Sarah Smith is a Rural Family Doctor, General Practitioner, and Rural Emergency Department Physician with over 20 years of experience in medical education. As an Assistant Clinical Professor with the University of Alberta, she is also widely recognized as a Clinical Day Advisor and Charting Coach. Dr. Smith helps doctors and clinicians restructure their work schedules to ensure daily responsibilities are completed within designated hours, creating more time for life outside of medicine.
Having practiced in rural Alberta, Canada, for 11 years, Dr. Smith returned to her native Australia in 2024, where she now lives on a rural property in Far North Queensland. Married for 24 years and a proud mother of two adult sons, she is passionate about helping medical professionals create sustainable, balanced clinical practices.
What you will learn:
- The key factors that influence productivity—and how to recognize them so you can make the changes needed to finally leave work at work.
- Why your brain isn’t as sharp after hours—understanding how decision fatigue drains executive function will help you stop pushing through when it’s not productive.
- How to stop doing work twice—a simple but powerful strategy to break this common (and exhausting) habit.
- The hard truth that sets you free—accepting that we are all replaceable is the key to creating the time and space to live the life you actually want.
Featured:
- Connect with Dr. Sarah Smith by visiting her website, listening to her podcast, or following her on Instagram, Facebook, or Linkedin.
- Arpita’s next Circle of Six 3.0 Group Cohort that launches in the Fall 2025! Learn more and register before spots are gone HERE.
- Learn more about Dr. Arpita Gupta DePalma’s programs with Thought Work, MD, including 1-to-1 coaching for individuals, group coaching cohorts for organizations, and her online self-study courses HERE.
- Transforming Your Anger From Reaction to Response Online Self Study Course with Dr. Arpita Gupta DePalma.
