Work Life Balance: An Analysis

Work Life Balance – What Balance?

“Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.” Anonymous. This quote stands out because as we highlight our career goals and strategically plan for them, our personal lives often happen as an afterthought. To be successful at achieving a work–life balance, we should pay equal attention to planning all spheres of our life. While God and Family have been the bedrock in my own...

Work–Life Balance Does Not Mean an Equal Balance

As I reflect on the different phases of my life as a physician, wife, mother, and physician leader, I realize that my expectations or definition of work–life balance have varied. I might even dare to say that my expectations vary on a daily basis. The concepts that remain at the crux of what I consider most important are a feeling of daily achievement and joy in each of my four life quadrants. ...

Beyond Work-Life "Balance".

T he desire for better work-life balance is a common concern among physicians and a key reason for choosing employed practice. But the term work-life balance has always struck me as problematic. In my experience, achieving a true balance between work and non-work activities is incredibly challenging and, when achieved, is fleeting. My moment of balance is quickly upended by a sick child, a pa...

Work-life balance.

Work–Life Balance is an Illusion: Replace Guilt with Acceptance

We walk with the ghosts of our patients every day of our lives. We chose critical care medicine because we love our work and are honored by the opportunity families give us to enter their lives when they are most vulnerable. We cannot develop these deep relationships that involve life and death then pretend those emotions and family stories do not enter our home lives. My work is my life and my...