What does work-life balance look like for doctors?
Work-life balance looks different than it did just a few decades back.
Not too long ago, it was easy to move between the personal and professional without overlap. When you weren’t working, you would spend time with family or friends without much access to your professional contacts. At work, there was no outside interference from your personal life.
Today, the professional and personal spheres are more blurred than ever before.
Today, the professional and personal spheres are more blurred than ever before thanks to our ability to communicate anywhere, anytime. It’s near impossible to completely separate your life into distinct compartments.
That doesn’t mean work-life balance isn’t possible though. It just requires a bit of practice. Here are top three tips for achieving work-life balance as a medical professional.
1. Don’t be afraid to set boundaries
It’s easy to forget that “no” isn’t necessarily a negative word. In fact, it’s an important part of a healthy professional vocabulary. This can be an especially difficult lesson to learn as a medical professional.
Instead of spitting out an automatic yes when someone at work asks for help, take a second to think about it. Don’t feel guilty saying if adding on that task is going to affect your ability to achieve balance.
2. Be present where you are
Instead of being partially in two places, put your energy into giving 100 per cent to wherever you are. When you’re at home with your family, be at home with your family. When you’re in the office with a patient, be in the office with a patient.
A study by HBR took a close look at how professionals managed to achieve work-life balance. By and large, respondents agreed on one thing: You need to devote your complete attention to the present.
Balance doesn’t look the same for everyone – find what works for you.
“When I’m at home, I really am at home,” explained one survey participant. “I force myself to not check my email, take calls, et cetera. I want to give my kids 100 per cent of my attention. But this also works the other way around, because when I’m at work I really want to focus on work. I believe that mixing these spheres too much leads to confusion and mistakes.”
3. Find a fit that works for you
Balance doesn’t look the same for everyone. You need to find what works for you. Do you need to be home at night to tuck your kids in? Or is it more important for your to have your mornings free to enjoy some gym time? Be sure to prioritise your kind of balance and communicate it to your supervisors so they can work with you.
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