166. Dr. Erin Hurley: Discernment, Energy, and Better Decisions in Medicine

Why does everything feel urgent, important, and exhausting at the same time? In this episode, Dr. Joanne Sotelo and Dr. Erin Hurley unpack the missing skill many women in medicine were never taught: discernment. From over-documenting charts to spending type-one energy on type-two decisions, they explore how learning to pause, clarify priorities, and manage both time and energy can transform patient care, leadership, and life outside of work. This conversation offers practical frameworks and mindset shifts to help you move off autopilot and into alignment.

Key Takeaways To Listen For

• Why overwhelm isn’t a time-management problem, it’s a discernment problem.
• The difference between type one (one-way door) and type two (swinging door) decisions.
• How over-documentation and perfectionism quietly drain time and energy.
• Why energy, not just time, must be treated as a limited resource.
• How to transition roles intentionally (doctor, leader, partner, parent) instead of living on autopilot.

“It's really important to use a pause and use discernment to your advantage, because if we don't, we're going to end up most of our days completely exhausted.” - Dr. Erin Hurley

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

• Reset by Dan Heath - https://www.amazon.com/Reset-How-Change-Whats-Working/dp/1668062097

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