Work-life balance
No-one at the end of their life ever wishes that they had spent more time at work. So don’t.
WHAT NEEDS TO GET DONE = TIME + ENERGY + RESOURCES
This is a simple model for productivity. For any given task to get done, we need sufficient inputs of time, energy and resources. If any of those are out of balance – if we don’t have enough time to complete a task – then that can be a cause of stress. Now think about all of the things that need to get done at home too. Relationships. Children. Cooking. Cleaning. Relaxation. Exercise. Travel. They all require your time, energy and resources too.
It should come as no surprise that all of those inputs are finite. There are only 24 hours in a day. We don’t have unlimited energy and resources. There comes a time when all of the competing demands of work and life become too much, and we start to experience stress, which as we know impacts mental health and wellbeing.
Our research into the mental health of dental practitioners found that one third of dentists and one quarter of other dental practitioners worked more than 40 hours per week. Because health professionals have a tendency to define themselves by their work, and their work provides them meaning, it becomes easy to slip into a pattern of long working hours. The problem is that it is not sustainable. Because that work drains our time, energy and resources, and leaves very little for the rest of our life. And it’s what we do away from work that is important in re-charging and re-energising our batteries.
People often talk about work-life balance as having interests outside of work. And to a certain extent this is true. But the essence is making sure that your time, energy and resources are spread across your work and life. It’s not just about adding more life activities on top of already overburdened work hours.
There are some keys to work-life balance:
Most importantly, it’s important to recognise that there is an imbalance between work and life.
Prioritise what is important to you. Ask yourself: What am I willing to sacrifice, and for how long? If I have been prioritising work over family, why do I feel that it is important? Is it really necessary? Is it really inevitable? Do I have any regrets about the time I allocate to my life? What will I regret if I continue along my current path?
Most importantly, prioritise your health. If your work and life is out of balance, then the inevitable outcome is that your health will suffer.
Make time for yourself and your loved ones. Spend more time with family and friends.
Play the long game. No matter how important some aspect of work seems to you now, it’s important to put into perspective that you will likely be in the workforce for 40 years (or more). Is whatever you are doing now so important that it can’t wait until tomorrow? Or next week? Or next year? Life is a marathon, not a sprint. This is especially important for younger health practitioners to recognise.
Set boundaries at work, and make your expectations clear. It’s not a sign of weakness to work fewer hours. Nor is it a badge of honour to always be the last one to leave the office.
Think about the fundamentals of wellbeing – sleep, exercise and healthy eating.
No-one at the end of their life ever wishes that they had spent more time at work. So don’t.
This week in dental research
A new study from the US found that the COVID-19 pandemic impacted on the delivery of dental services, with greater demands for oral surgery and tele dentistry and fewer demands for preventive services. Patients experienced more psychological stress-related dental problems, and there was a slower rebound in the provision of dental services that there was for medical services.