Work-Life Balance

 

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Most of us are familiar with this usage, but many dismiss it as something that only applies to school-going children, isn't it?

                              As adults, we are so conditioned to stick to a set schedule, be it in everyday tasks or just regular living, but this just stifles our creativity and makes life dull. As the quote goes, " Variety is the spice of life",  it is only when there is an assortment of activities for us to choose from, can we do different hobbies every day. It won't be boring, in fact, it will be stimulating. And since we are the ones ourselves, who have set this array of pursuits to employ ourselves, it is never forced and we have the choice to do whatever we feel like in the moment. Life then becomes this spontaneous, flowing, ebbing river full of life, vigour and vitality.

               As doctors, I  think it is our community itself that doesn't take care of our health. We advise our patients left and right to drink 8 glasses of water, sleep 8 hours a day, eat on time and exercise but how many of us actually practise what we preach? In our busy schedules, putting patients first and as first responders, we sometimes; no, most times let things slide and skip our meals and workout sessions, don't we? And all of this takes a toll on the physician's health about which the the general public is not aware of. 

                The uniqueness of our lives and our fluctuating responsibilities make striking this balance a very personal journey, with the variables in plenty and it depends on what one prioritizes and what ultimately gives us happiness. Working on this integration has multitudes of benefits ranging from drastically improving one's physical, mental and emotional well-being. Studies show how looking after yourself can significantly bring down the rate of serious health issues like sleep and memory impairment, heavy drinking, diabetes, stroke and heart disease.

                      Diversify your interests so that all the areas of your brain get activated. All the different lobes of our brain are designed to handle different tasks, so..we have to engage in activities outside the norm, just for the sake of it so that we can feel fresh and alive all the time.

                             Also the thrill and the curiosity of a new activity stimulates the release of neurotransmitters or the feel-good hormones and the pain-relieving endorphins all of which are integral to our survival.                  

A 2014 study found that after workers hit a certain number of hours, their productivity began to decrease as the potential for mistakes and injuries increased. Achieving a healthy work-life balance, therefore, can not only potentially reduce stress and improve emotional states but also increase overall productivity.

                  I've heard of a surgeon getting kidney stones and requiring surgery himself due to his lack of drinking water. On a personal note, I happened to ask my senior consultant in Cardiology after all his hectic duties when he gets the time for his hobbies and he said, it's now in his 50s that he's finally getting a little leisure time to do the things he wants. I think that's a bane of this profession, the more sincere you are in your work, you tend to put yourself on the back pedestal. Remember, tomorrow never comes. You have to make time for the things you want to do right now because tomorrow is promised to none. All we have is right now. Even in the midst of tight schedules, make time for yourself. You should always be your biggest priority. Because only when we take care of our health physically and mentally,  can we show up for others in the most fulfilling and engaging way. Be it our patients or family and friendships, meaningful rapports and relationships blossom when our cup is full and it flows without limits to the people around us.

          So, go on that picnic, travel the world, invest in experiences rather than financial assets, spend time with your pets and I mean good quality time. Pursue your hobbies like music, art, sport, and instruments; there's a myriad of activities out there to engage in. Never let time with family & friendships take a backseat because of your work. After all, we are all running behind the money for them, isn't it...

              I've attached two links for the reader's ease. Feel free to go through them and pick areas that cater to your specific, individual journey and work on that so that in the end, we can be there for our fellow beings too.

Work-Life integration

25 Ways to achieve work -life balance