WDS Career Corner: Ten Tips for Maintaining Work-Life Balance

Ten Tips for Maintaining Work-Life Balance

Special thanks to Drs. Anna Karp and Mara C. Weinstein Velez for their invaluable tips on how to keep work-life balance.
 

1. Take care of yourself first physically, mentally, emotionally in whatever way best fits your lifestyle. This makes the time spent with patients and family more fulfilling.
   
   
2. Be present at home and do the same at work.  Sometimes things come up (e.g., patient emergency while you're with your kids), but most of the time you can separate the two.  I've changed my mind set over time from thinking about how hard it is to do both well to thinking about the two roles enriching each other. When you are at work, you can recharge for parenting and vice versa. 
    
3. Set a time frame for working from home.  Whether it’s finishing charts or virtual patients, putting a hard stop on work tasks will make family time more valuable. I try my best to not bring work home. Being home with young kids is like a second job in itself, so I try to separate the two.
   
   
4. Date nights with spouses are a must! Make it a point to schedule evenings out at least once a month.
   
   
5. Get help to make it easier. The more things you can outsource, the easier it will be for you. For instance, having groceries delivered if you can't get to the store. Getting help with childcare so you can have some time for yourself. 
   
   
6. Try not to bite off more than you can chew… easier said than done. As dermatologists, we care deeply for our patients and others, so it’s sometimes hard to say no. Limit your “extras” and have that discussion with your spouse so you are in agreement.
   
   
7. Subtract less meaningful obligations from your life. I think saying no to certain things is necessary. You will only burn yourself out if you try to do everything! 
   
   
8. Letting go of guilt and having more self-compassion for yourself is important also.  A lot of people are going through the same thing and when you get stressed, treating yourself with the same kindness you would treat a best friend is key.
   
   
9. For children that are old enough to understand what you do for a living, explain that as a dermatologist we take care of people and sometimes it can take time. When kids have a better understanding that what mom or dad are doing in a positive way, they have more compassion for mom and dad knowing they are making a difference.
   
   
10. Take the kids out individually (I have 3!) on special “dates” bi-weekly, even if just for a coffee and a muffin. This prioritizes family time and togetherness, and also makes up for time that you might be away for meetings and lectures.