In today’s world of modern medicine, it feels like all we clinicians do is wake up, drinking a bucket of coffee or tea, head to work for eight to 12 hours, read some medical literature to keep our skills sharp and the crash out after a long workday. Not having that perfect work/life balance can take a significant toll.
It’s a stressful lifestyle that we endure every day to take care of our patients.
People often get overwhelmed with the stress of the daily grind. All work and no play, working the dreaded 12-hour work schedule. So, how does one stay motivated and energized to get through this line of work, day in and day out? Well, since everyone is different, we search for ways to relieve our stress by finding cathartic outlets.
So, to help you on your mission to search and discover ways to manage that perfect work and life balance, I went ahead and jotting down my weekly routine to shed those unwanted stress to live a productive lifestyle outside of work.
“You will never feel truly satisfied by work until you are satisfied by life.” -- Heather Schuck, The Working Mom Manifesto
Meditation is a great tool to stay clear-minded and focused. People often say take care of your health to manage work and life. What does that mean? I think it means that you need to have mental clarity and energy to accomplish what needs to be done. Meditation is a great way to recharge and to do away with unwanted thoughts and distractions.
Here’s a quick meditation practice to manage that perfect work/life balance:
After you add mediation into your perfect work/life balance, your body and mind will thank you.
People get so busy with the jobs that they forget to drink water. When this happens, a cascade of symptoms can ensure leading to what is called “chronic dehydration.” With chronic dehydration, a laundry list of symptoms like headache, muscle ache, fatigue, constipation, and even insomnia can ensue.
So, don’t wait, go hydrate. Drink about 74-80 ounces of water daily with a pinch of salt for minerals.
One of the best ways to maintain balance is to make sure that I have balanced myself. This means that I am adjusted hormonally, and I am balanced emotionally and energetically. What better way to do this than to exercise?
The American Heart Association recommends 30 minutes of moderate cardiovascular activity 4-5 times per week. Doing this can give me the energy to stay focused and accomplished tasks without feeling overwhelmed or stressed.
Never underestimate the power of a good bodywork session.
What is bodywork?
A good bodywork session can remove the knots and restrictions that restrict blood flow and prevent the smooth functioning of the neuromusculoskeletal system. I like to think of my body as a car that needs an oil change. Without an oil change every 3,000 miles, my engine starts to wear down.
Nothing beats a good session that gets me embodied and relaxed. I step out of a good bodywork session like I’m walking on clouds. I’m high on endorphins, my body is relaxed, and I’m ready to sleep. I usually wake up the next day feeling energized and in a great mood.
This means I’m better to be around, and I can tolerate more work. So, add bodywork into your schedule to manage your perfect work/life balance.
Ask me what I do when I want to vent to someone, but no one is around. That’s right, and I went to my journal. My journal doesn’t talk back or give unsolicited advice. It listens to me.
And when I read my journal, I know that I’ve been heard, because I listen to myself. The best way to manage stress from my job or life is to jot down my thoughts without judgment.
I love what I do, and hopefully, you do too. Look, life is too short to be spent doing something that doesn’t thrill me. And if I don’t know what excites me, that’s fine, because I can refer to steps 1-5 to help me figure that out. Digging into myself to learn who I am taking time and patience, but the discovery of a passion is life-changing.
So, invest in finding out what you love and do it with all your energy because you deserve to live the life you’re meant too.
