The Bored Psychologist

October 8, 2009 1:19 PM

Please help me fill up my time. I am a psychologist in private practice, and thanks to the recession, I have multiple times during the week with nothing to do--this is a new experience for me, and aside from the anxiety of not working as much as I need to, I am also bored to tears. Unfortunately, it is an hour here and an hour there--never any good block of time, and although in the future I may have to rearrange my schedule and put all my hours together, at the moment I am trying to maintain hope that I will be able to fill those hours with new patients. I am sick of surfing the internet, going for walks, updating patient files, and reading whatever (professional literature, novels). Any suggestions, Mefites, for how I can spend my time more productively, or at least entertainingly?
posted by chaoscutie to work & money (21 comments total)

I learned to play chess in my odd blocks of an hour here an hour there downtime at work. I bought a cheap chess set and used 2 learn to play chess sites.
posted by Pineapplicious at 1:23 PM on October 8

Do you play any instruments? Now might be a good time to start. I always keep a bass guitar, guitar, and keyboard in my offices.
An hour here and an hour there consistently will make for some good practice time.

It's nice as where you can pick it up and put it down as often as you want with still being available in your office.
posted by zephyr_words at 1:25 PM on October 8 [1 favorite]

Is there an elementary school close to your office? They almost always could use someone to come in and read to kids.
posted by hydropsyche at 1:26 PM on October 8 [1 favorite]

Can we assume you have moved all necessary admin associated with your business to the gaps in order to make more productive time elsewhere? Any household admin you could slot in? Spend some time looking for cheaper services, utilities, etc.

Could you work on anything that might contribute to your level of business? Reading up on anything? Studying for any additional qualifications? Brainstorming for ideas to get your name to potential new customers?
posted by biffa at 1:28 PM on October 8

Could you take on a few patients pro bono? There a lot of people who need help but cannot afford it. You would be doing a great service for your local community, and it would probably make you feel pretty satisfied. Or, you could set up some free group sessions.
posted by AlliKat75 at 1:28 PM on October 8 [29 favorites]

Any interest in crafty stuff? Knitting or crochet projects, for example, are perfect to work on for an hour at a time here and there.

How about learning a language on your own? An hour can be perfect to get through a lesson or two.
posted by scody at 1:29 PM on October 8

Buy some light dumbbells, beam up YouTube, and search "dumbbell" "dumbell workout", etc.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 1:37 PM on October 8

I've faced a similar situation, and found that there are lots of volunteer opportunities that fit the bill. Whether for a political or social cause, there is always lots of work that can be done at your computer and/or telephone and is relatively easy to pick up and put down as needed.
posted by DrGail at 1:45 PM on October 8

Seconding the pro bono suggestion - how many times here on AskMe have other Mefites (the same group of folks you have turned to for help) wanted counseling or therapy but been unable to afford it?

I can't get a sense of where you are to offer specific suggestions, but there must be local resources you can become a member of to accept free or sliding-scale clients.

Of course, I am by no means suggesting you have a moral or ethical obligation to work for free.
posted by bunnycup at 1:49 PM on October 8 [1 favorite]

Aside from the other very good suggestions, now might be a good time to do a sort of fake-MBA in your free time--learning about marketing, finance, other things which in the long run will do your practice a lot of good once the economy improves.

A lot of professionals are very good at their actual professional work but don't have a lot of business background to go with that. You could give yourself a big leg up in the long run by boning up on these subjects. You don't need to take university classes to do this. There are a lot of good books, blogs, podcasts, etc, on the subject. And rather than just aimless reading, you could give your time more structure: This span of time is "marketing class", which is going to involve reading one chapter of this marketing book and then writing down five ways I can apply this information to my business. This other span of time is "accounting class", which is going to involve reading one chapter in this accounting book and then applying the ratios from that chapter to my last period's financials. Etc.

Also, speaking of which, it's October. How caught up is your bookkeeping? If it's not, start getting that taken care of now, whether it's gathering information for your bookkeeper/accountant or doing the work yourself if you do your own. That'll be a great help come spring.
posted by larkspur at 1:51 PM on October 8

I've always heard the best therapists are the ones who are in therapy themselves. If you work out of a office space with other therapists/mental health professionals, etc.. this may be a good time to at least fill one hour a week by going into therapy. Heck, you were *stressed out* enough about your idle time to post here; you might as well work on other life stresses.
posted by teg4rvn at 2:11 PM on October 8

Write a book! Better yet, an eBook, about solving some psychological issue that desperate people would buy, like anxiety or depression. Put it online and Profit! 8-)
posted by Theloupgarou at 2:14 PM on October 8 [2 favorites]

Yoga. You can start with formal classes and work your way up to practicing at the office.
posted by deadcrow at 2:31 PM on October 8

What about starting a blog on topics in psychology that interest you? Keeps you researching new things, and becomes a part of a "portfolio" for future jobs. It could also net you more clients, if they see and read your blog, they could be motivated to contact you over and above another psychologist.
posted by LN at 2:37 PM on October 8

I like the idea of doing some sort of exercises. Or maybe yoga or similar. I also like the learn an instrument idea. Any electric instrument can be silent or nearly so with headphones.

And you could always take some sort of online course or program.

If not pro-bono, would it be possible to offer lower rates so as to get clients and maintain some income?
posted by 6550 at 2:40 PM on October 8

Play Second Life or install The Sims or get a DS or a Wii!

It's nice to be altrusitic and community minded and all, but seriously? Buy Sims!

Do not play WOW
posted by DarlingBri at 2:55 PM on October 8

Excellent feedback so far, and thanks for the ideas--I do have a blog and a website and am very interested in doing more marketing so thanks for that--My practice has been mostly for therapists thus far (a combo of consultation/therapy for therapists), so I will have to think about how to market that further--

I already do as much pro bono as my practice will tolerate. I like the idea of an E-book--very interesting--I will have to research what kind of psychology e-books would appeal to people--I already do exercise in the early a.m. an don't wish to do more. Not sure online game playing is my thang--

I do appreciate all the various suggestions!
posted by chaoscutie at 3:16 PM on October 8 [1 favorite]

In addition to what has already been suggested... (I'm thinking of things you could do as you wait in between that hour here, hour there:
Knit, paint, draw, sculpt, model clay, whittle, carve, sing, dance
garden, lift weights, listen to books on tape while you do the above,
play music, cook, design something, do crosswords, write letters,
put yourself on a serious reading programme that has nothing to do with psychology,
build something with wood, metal, found objects, lego, popsicle sticks,
collect stamps, insects...learn a language, write a column for your local newspaper,
bird watch, become an expert on wild flowers, trees, bacteria...
make stained glass windows, make gift cards, stuff envelops or make calls for your local political party of organization, answer the phone for a crisis helpline
visit with lonely people, deliver meals on wheels,
take care of a pet, walk dogs...
do something you've always wanted to do, develop a skill or talent you've always wanted to have
or just enjoy the peace.
posted by ofelia at 4:41 PM on October 8

If you have enough "here and there" hours, and you're writing-inclined anyway, NaNoWriMo starts next month.

You don't have to use it to write a novel, you can also write non-fiction, it's allowed! Or maybe you've always daydreamed about writing a novel "some day when I had the time."

I did Nano last year, and it literally-no-fooling changed my life. Cheesy but true.
posted by ErikaB at 5:25 PM on October 8

Learn a new language?
posted by mazienh at 5:58 PM on October 8

Since you stress about having the free time in the first place, I would recommend something that works towards growing your practice and solving that issue. You will feel better that you are fixing the problem, and your business will also grow so you don't have the free time "problem" anymore.

Others have suggested blogs and ebooks, all of which are great. But with the exception of the ebook, there's not much revenue potential, especially if your business goal is to focus on the core business of your practice. Selling an ebook isn't very likely to get you new patients in your local area.

So, that said, consider networking and pitching local newspapers and media outlets to be a Psychology Expert. If you specialize in one particular area (like relationships) that is a huge plus. They might be willing to pay you, but the real benefit is getting the exposure they have to offer which will help build your local brand/reputation, which will ultimately drive more local patients.

You should also consider doing volunteer work, but try to do it for people that may not be able to pay you at that point in time, but have a high likelihood of turning into potential patients in the future once they get back on their feet.

Also, consider reading up on marketing. I'm not sure if this would conflict with any ethics guidelines, but maybe you could advertise a free hour of couple's counseling or something like that. This will give people a taste of your service, and then they can decide whether they want to continue seeing you or not.

Feel free to msg me if you want to discuss further as I can keep running with this.
posted by Elminster24 at 7:46 PM on October 8