Doctors: How To Work Less and Enjoy More Free Time

As a Doctor/ business owner  your time is  one of your  most valuable—and limited—resources.  Whether you're in private practice, part of a group, or running a clinic, the demands are relentless. Between seeing patients, reviewing labs, documenting notes, managing staff, and handling the business side of medicine, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Many doctors find themselves doing it all—only to end up burned out, frustrated, and too busy to focus on what matters most: patient care and long-term practice growth.

One tool that can dramatically shift this dynamic is the 80/20 Rule, also known as the Pareto Principle.

What Is the 80/20 Rule?

The 80/20 Rule suggests that 80% of your results come from just 20% of your efforts. The challenge in medicine is identifying which 20% of your work actually drives outcomes—whether it’s clinical excellence, practice revenue, patient satisfaction, or professional fulfillment—and learning how to delegate the rest without compromising care.

Here’s how you can apply this principle in your practice starting today.

Step 1: Identify the 20%, That Gives You 80% of Your Results

Start by tracking how you're spending your time during a typical week. Break it down: patient visits, charting, emails, staff supervision, insurance paperwork, billing issues  and so on.

Now ask yourself:

• Which of these activities generate the most impact—clinically, financially, or professionally?
  
• Which tasks are draining your time but offering little return?
  

For example, reviewing patient charts and making treatment decisions is a high-impact activity. But spending hours on prior authorizations, tech issues, book work  or scheduling  likely isn’t. Recognize which parts of your day truly require your unique skills as a doctor and which could be handled by someone else.

Step 2: Delegate the remaining 80% of The Stuff

Once you’ve identified the high-value 20%, it’s time to systematically offload the rest. This includes administrative tasks, repetitive documentation, and lower-level operational responsibilities. This is where delegation systems become powerful.

For example:

• Hiring or empowering a strong practice manager to oversee day-to-day operations.
  
• Using scribes or AI documentation tools 
• Delegating insurance communications to billing specialists.
  
• Automating appointment reminders, prescription refills, and follow-ups.
  

Document these workflows so your team can run them independently. Think SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for everything from intake forms to lab result callbacks.

Step 3: Set a 90-Day Goal to Reclaim Your Time 

Transformation doesn’t happen overnight. Set a clear 90-day plan to delegate or systematize as many of your non-clinical tasks as possible.

Using our a simple tool which you can download here “Getting  Rid of the Stuff”  you can easily  track what you’re offloading and to whom. During this period, monitor how your time shifts. One Doctor we worked with reduced their weekly workload —and increased their free time by 32% —simply by focusing on higher-value consults and procedures while handing off admin tasks.  The goal? Free up hours in your week without sacrificing quality.  

Why Systems-Based Delegation Works

Delegation with structure doesn’t just reduce your stress—it improves patient outcomes and team performance. When everyone knows their role, and tasks are clearly defined and systematized, your clinic runs more smoothly. This approach:

• Frees you up for complex cases, leadership, and innovation.
  
• Empowers your team to grow in competence and confidence.
  
• Reduces errors caused by rushed or overextended providers.
  
• Supports a more scalable and profitable practice model.
  

And most importantly—it gives you the time and space to practice medicine with clarity and purpose again.

Final Thoughts...

As a Doctor / business owner your time should be spent where it matters most: diagnosing, treating, educating, and leading. By applying the 80/20 Rule, streamlining your workflow, and building a delegation system, you can reduce burnout and increase both impact and income.

Delegation isn't about letting go of control—it's about building a practice that can thrive without burning you out. Take back your time, re-center on your clinical strengths, and let your practice work for you—not the other way around.

Chris Tolevsky has over 30 years experience in the medical and allied health fields.  He provides expert guidance on tax strategies, building and protecting wealth . If you’re interested in discussing how we can help you please book a complimentary consultation. 

Disclaimer: This article contains general information only . It is not designed to be a substitute for professional advice and does not take into account your individual circumstances, so please check with us before implementing this strategy to make sure it is suitable.