While some doctors don't think they can afford to step away from their practices, it might be better to ask yourself if you can afford not to.

The demands and stress of the last few years have caused a major spike in physician burnout, which can have serious life-or-death consequences for doctors and their patients. You might need more than just a long weekend or an extended vacation to get your Return on Life back in order.

A physician's sabbatical can give doctors an opportunity to step back from their routines, engage in different activities, learn more about medicine and themselves, and return to work with renewed energy. Work through this three-step process to design a sabbatical that could get you back in touch with why you became a doctor in the first place.