About The Social Scrub-In: Where Doctors Get Socially Savvy
Brought to you by The Corcoran Collective, a marketing firm specializing in strategic storytelling for mission-driven organizations, The Social Scrub-In is a practical blog series created for physicians who want to navigate the digital world with purpose. Each post offers tailored insights to help medical professionals use platforms like LinkedIn to elevate their voice, grow their network, and shape the future of healthcare—without needing to become influencers. This is where medicine meets modern communication.
Digital Wellness for Physicians: How to Protect Your Time, Attention, and Well-Being During the Holiday Season
For many physicians, the holidays can feel less like a restful break and more like a pressure cooker of clinical responsibilities, family expectations, social events, and year-end administrative tasks. Layer in nonstop digital communication, from patient messages to family group texts, and even the most resilient clinician can feel stretched thin.
Digital wellness isn’t about logging off entirely. It’s about using technology intentionally so you can protect your time, reduce cognitive overload, and create more space for what matters most. As part of its commitment to physician well-being, ACMS encourages clinicians to take purposeful steps toward healthier digital habits this season.
Audit Your Digital Load: Focus on What Actually Needs You
Physicians are inundated with notifications. Many are urgent for someone, but not necessarily for you.
Consider:
- Auditing push notification settings to see if there are any to reduce
- Auto-routing low-priority emails to a folder you review once daily
- Deleting unused apps that add visual clutter
- Schedule time for posting and responding on social media and log off when that time ends
A lighter digital environment means fewer micro-distractions and more mental bandwidth for clinical care and personal life.
Use Technology to Reduce Stress (Not Add to It)
Digital tools can support your wellness when used with intention.
Lean on helpful automations:
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- Schedule-send emails to maintain boundaries and prevent late-night message spirals
- Auto-pay routine bills
- Use shared family calendars to reduce the mental load
- Set holiday-specific reminders, such as last days for gift delivery or year-end CME deadlines
- Audit in real time, as you go through this holiday season, set reminders for next year of tasks and deadlines (for example, if you felt rushed to buy gifts for colleagues, put an earlier date in your calendar for next year.)
Optimize your workflow:
- Batch email and inbox checks instead of grazing throughout the day
- Create quick phrases for common holiday-season patient questions
- Use voice dictation to make small tasks faster and more ergonomic
These small steps smooth the edges of a busy season.
Establish Clear and Compassionate Boundaries
Clear boundaries are a form of self-care, and a safeguard for patient care.
Try:
- Using “Do Not Disturb” modes when not on call
- Communicating holiday coverage and response expectations with colleagues
- Adding a brief autoreply acknowledging slower holiday response times
These simple shifts help you reclaim a sense of control without compromising professionalism.
Build Breaks Into Your Day. Your Brain Needs Them
- Step outside for a few minutes between patients
- Use a brief breathing exercise before opening your inbox
- Take a visual break by closing your eyes for 30 seconds
These small rests reset your nervous system, helping you stay present and grounded.
Create Device-Free Spaces to Strengthen Connection
Intentional tech-free moments can be profoundly restorative.
- Make holiday meals device-free
- Establish phone-free time during morning routines
- Create a “parking spot” for devices near the door to reduce mindless scrolling
Disconnecting periodically allows you to reconnect meaningfully—with family, friends, or simply yourself.
Reflect on What’s Serving You (and What Isn’t)
Ask yourself:
- Which digital behaviors are helping me manage stress?
- Which are draining me?
- What is one small shift I can make this week?
This self-assessment keeps digital wellness grounded in practical, personal awareness—not perfection.
A More Manageable Holiday Season Is Possible
Digital wellness isn’t about opting out of technology. It’s about shaping your digital environment so it supports the physician you are—and the life you want outside the clinic or hospital. With a few intentional changes, you can use tech to lighten your load, strengthen your boundaries, and move through the holidays with greater presence and peace.
ACMS encourages you to prioritize yourself this season. Protecting your energy isn’t indulgent, it’s essential for high-quality patient care and your long-term well-being.