Striking a balance between career and personal life is something everyone must do to maintain optimal physical, emotional, and mental health, but it’s especially difficult for healthcare professionals. Whether training, juggling responsibilities, or noticing that you need a break, there’s no time like now to build better habits and set boundaries between work and home life.
Self-Care as a Stress Management Tool
When describing work-life balance for advanced practice providers, self-care usually appears as personal time outside of work and daily life. Exercise is a common example, but self-care is more than a good workout. For some, relaxation involves reading, meditation, cooking, a trip to the salon, or a favorite show on TV.
The road to self-care begins with stressor identification and consistency. What’s stopping you from achieving a better work-life balance as a healthcare provider? Are coworkers creating friction, or is the daily commute stressful? Is an upcoming certification renewal draining your reserves? By answering these questions honestly and taking some time for yourself every day, you’ll alleviate stress, work through your emotions, and be a better provider.
Choosing the Right Schedule
Flexible scheduling significantly improves work-life balance for those in the healthcare field. Workers can manage personal and professional commitments by choosing shift patterns that align with their preferences. When organizations use flexible scheduling systems that accommodate staff needs without sacrificing care quality, they increase employee satisfaction while reducing absenteeism and attrition.
Giving workers a say in their daily schedules gives them a feeling of control over their destinies, and implementing rotating shift patterns or self-scheduling systems helps distribute high demand shifts evenly. These practices reduce burnout risk, demonstrate respect for workers’ time, and lead to better team dedication and engagement.
Time Management
People in the medical field work very long hours and have busy schedules, but time management will protect mental health and maintain work-life balance. Begin by setting aside blocks of time for socializing, sleeping, exercising, and things you love to do. Make these things non-negotiable, and don’t allow outside stress to interfere with your downtime.
There are only 24 hours in the day, and healthcare workers must learn how to maximize their time. If you like to read, find a few audiobooks to enjoy on your daily commute. Or, instead of driving or flying to conferences and classes for CEs and certifications, complete them online during breaks. With proactiveness and creativity, you can set priorities before your schedule does.
Starting Small and Finding Support
Wherever your journey toward work-life balance leads, it’s best to start small and set realistic goals. Try to temper your expectations and celebrate every victory. It may be as simple as taking a walk every evening or limiting screen time on busy mornings. For some, it may be as big as scheduling family time or finding an online option for continuing education. By talking to family and asking coworkers for help, you may get personalized suggestions that lead to better time management and improved well-being.
Staffing Solutions Create Work-Life Balance
At CHG Healthcare, we’re committed to helping organizations create positive experiences for employees. Our tailored solutions address the challenges faced by today’s healthcare professionals. Contact our team to discover how we can help medical providers implement effective strategies for healthier and more balanced workplaces.