Balancing Your Personal & Professional Life

When I decided to begin my medical career, I knew what I was getting myself into. At every point along the journey, I was reminded by mentors and colleagues alike that medicine is a lifelong commitment to learning and that I should be on the lookout for physician burnout whilst paying special attention to self-care and my mental health. On a practical level, it was easy to see how each aspect of my life played upon one another – work, mind, body, relationships, and spirituality. Reality kicked in when I found myself struggling to balance my increasing workload whilst trying to keep up with my other responsibilities. I had to do what was necessary at the time which was a complete reset to regain control of my sanity.

Here are a few tips I have been using to avoid burnout and sacrificing my mental health:

Know when to seek help

If your life feels too chaotic to manage and you’re not making any headway with finding a solution, then it might be time to ask for help. For me, this meant talking to a therapist who helped me to identify my underlying stressors and formulate a feasible plan. Asking for help is a great first step to regaining control of your work-life balance. Don’t be ashamed to hire an assistant or a nanny if you can afford it. Speak to a mentor, advisor, or someone who has been in a similar situation. Ask for recommendations and be willing to try them.

Manage your time wisely

The key to managing your time is to prioritize! Think about how much time you are willing to spend with family, at work, or on your personal brand. Acknowledge the things you are willing to sacrifice and what must absolutely come first. Make a schedule using a virtual or physical planner. Sync your calendars to view all of your engagements in one place. Maximize your schedule breaks to complete quick and easy tasks.

Set Limits

I recently attended a workshop on “Balancing Personal and Professional Life as a Woman Doctor” hosted by Women in White Coats. During the session, we were reminded about ways to say ‘no’ nicely to the things that do not align with our personal goals. As tempting as it may be to become more involved in extracurricular activities or new ventures, sometimes saying no is best to maintain a stable work-life balance.

Maintain relationships

As much as I love my career thus far, being “married to medicine” will not be my grand finale. I want to continue being a relevant part of the lives of my family, friends, and loved ones. Being a professional is no excuse to abandon relationships that I have invested so much in over the years. As much as possible, make time to visit family, call friends, and catch up with colleagues over dinner or your favorite activity.

Make time for self-care

The idea of working remotely was perfect until I realized that one side of my life was using up too much of my energy and my work commitments were running into my personal time. Was I being productive? Absolutely – but this was not the way I envisioned my daily routine. I honestly felt like I was “working” all the time, responding to emails in between sleep, postponing self-care activities to join a last-minute meeting, or falling asleep at my laptop. I didn’t feel like I was “leaving work” to “come home” and that bothered me. Now I try my best to include self-care activities in my weekly schedule. You can opt for the fancy spa day (pedicure, manicure, massage, etc.)  or do something as simple as taking yourself to lunch/dinner, going to the gym, going shopping (window shopping counts too), or watching your favorite movie on Netflix.

Celebrate your accomplishments

As women professionals, we do not celebrate ourselves enough. I am so guilty of this, and I have been making a conscious effort to reward myself for every milestone achieved – big or small. Passed an exam? Opened your own office? Met your weight loss goal? Celebrate that! Letting others celebrate you is also important. You have worked hard to get to where you are in your career and you deserve every moment of recognition.

I am still a work in progress when it comes to taking my own advice. So, if you are struggling to achieve your work-life balance know that you are not alone. Take some time to understand how you can regain control of your life balance and feel free to share your experiences with me in the comments below.