Burnout is an issue that has become all too common in the medical profession. It’s a complex, multifactorial problem, and while I’m definitely not the expert on this topic, I talk to a lot of physicians on a regular basis and I’ve seen how deeply it impacts our community. I know it because I’ve felt aspects of it myself.
For some, burnout feels like emotional exhaustion. For others, it shows up as a sense of detachment from work, a lack of personal accomplishment, or even questioning why they entered medicine in the first place. The word itself carries different meanings for different people, but one thing is clear: burnout is real, and it’s something we need to talk about.
I’ve noticed in talking to thousands and thousands of physicians that one idea I’ve seen that helps is the concept of creating passive income to reclaim time and control. It’s not a cure-all, but it can be a powerful part of the solution.
Imagine practicing medicine on your own terms—working less while still building a secure financial future. Imagine gaining some control of your career and life, how would that change the way you view things?
The Physician Burnout Crisis
The statistics on physician burnout are alarming:
- Nearly 54% of physicians report experiencing at least one symptom of burnout (American Medical Association).
- Common symptoms include emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and dissatisfaction with work.
- Burnout rates have been steadily increasing year after year.
We went into medicine to help people, but unfortunately, the system isn’t set up to take care of us. Many doctors find themselves on what I like to call the “Medical Hamster Wheel” – working long hours, dealing with increasing administrative burdens, and having little time to enjoy life outside of work.
Instead of reaching the promised land, where “I’m set,” you might find yourself running harder and harder without feeling like you’re making any progress.
The good news? It doesn’t always have to be this way.
One thing that can help is to build additional streams of income (passive income) that can create financial security. It can give you an alternate pathway to step off the hamster wheel and regain control over your career and life.
The Power of Passive Income
What is passive income? Simply put, it’s money you earn with minimal ongoing effort, allowing you to break free from the cycle of trading time for money. Unlike your active income (salary from your medical job), passive income allows you to generate revenue even when you’re not working.
It’s not necessarily easy at first and it’s definitely not a get-rich-quick scheme, but it’s a system for creating sustainable income that grows over time.
Some examples of passive income streams that are particularly well-suited for physicians include:
- Real Estate Investments: Syndications, rental properties, short-term rentals.
- Business and products: Creating online products, inventions / royalties
- Equities: Stocks that provide consistent dividend payouts.
Even small streams of passive income can provide flexibility, allowing you to work fewer shifts, choose how you want your practice to be run, or simply have peace of mind knowing you’re not 100% reliant on your clinical income.
Free Download: The Physician’s Guide to Passive Income
To help you get started, we’ve created “The Physician’s Guide to Passive Income: 5 Simple Steps to Start Earning Beyond Your Clinical Paycheck.”
Inside, you’ll find:
- A breakdown of the best passive income strategies for physicians.
- A step-by-step guide to making your first investment.
- Tools and resources to help you take action.
Click here to download your free guide!
Click Here to Download The Physician’s Guide to Passive Income!
Mini Case Study: A Physician’s Journey to Financial Freedom
Dr. Sarah, a 42-year-old ER physician, found herself constantly working 55+ hours a week, feeling exhausted and disconnected from her family. She knew she needed a change but wasn’t sure how to achieve financial security without working endless shifts.
After learning about real estate investing, she started by investing a small portion of her income into a few deals both passively and even bought a short term rental. Over the next five years, her passive income grew to cover nearly 50% of her living expenses, allowing her to cut her clinical hours by a half as well.
Now, Dr. Sarah spends more time with her children, says she exercises regularly, and has even given talks to other physicians on financial literacy. She didn’t leave medicine entirely—she simply took control of how she practices.
Her story is proof that passive income can be a game-changer when it comes to fighting burnout.
How to Get Started with Passive Income
If you’re new to passive income, here’s a simple roadmap to help you get started:
1. Find Your Why
Before jumping into investments, take a moment to define your goals:
- What do you want your life to look like in 5–10 years?
- Why is financial freedom important to you?
- How would having more time and flexibility change your daily life?
2. Start Small and Stay Consistent
- Consider allocating even 5–10% of your income toward passive income investments.
- Pick one strategy (real estate, stocks, or digital products) and start learning.
- Set a goal to make one small investment within the next 6 months.
3. Invest in Financial Education
- Read books and blogs about financial independence.
- Take courses to help accelerate your learning
- Listen to finance-focused podcasts during your commute or workouts.
4. Leverage Mentorship and Community
- Join online physician investment communities (like Passive Income Docs).
- Connect with colleagues who are already generating passive income.
- Seek out mentors who can help you avoid common mistakes.
Tips for Achieving Work-Life Balance While Building Wealth
Creating passive income shouldn’t add to your stress—it should reduce it. Here’s how to maintain balance while growing your income:
- Prioritize Self-Care: Block off time for exercise, hobbies, and mental health.
- Delegate and Automate: Hire a team to help with your real estate investments, outsource administrative work to a VA.
- Set Boundaries: Reduce unnecessary work commitments like admin positions you don’t benefit from and don’t want to do and say “no” to extra shifts when possible.
- Celebrate Wins: Acknowledge milestones, no matter how small, to stay motivated.
The Future You Deserve
Burnout doesn’t have to be permanent. By taking small, intentional steps toward financial freedom, you can create a life that is both fulfilling and financially secure. Taking back some control gives you options and it’s harder to feel burned out when you get to decide how you use your time and energy.
Imagine being able to practice medicine because you love it, not because you have to.
Subscribe to receive the 7 Steps you can follow to achieve Financial Freedom
If financial freedom is your goal, there’s no better time to get started than right now.
Unlock actionable steps that you can take every day to fine-tune your goals, discover your interests, and avoid costly mistakes on your financial freedom journey.
Conclusion
Passive income isn’t just about money—it’s about reclaiming your time, energy, and passion for life. Whether you want to work fewer hours, travel more, or simply enjoy more freedom in your career, the journey starts today.
If you’re interested in more, subscribe to our newsletter for more content that will help you in and out of medicine. As always, make it happen!
Peter Kim, MD is the founder of Passive Income MD, the creator of Passive Real Estate Academy, and offers weekly education through his Monday podcast, the Passive Income MD Podcast. Join our community at the Passive Income Doc Facebook Group.
Further Reading
