The decision to attend graduate school embarks many of us on a journey of exciting research, conferences, and networking opportunities. During this time, it is also beneficial for you to consider how to best balance personal and professional demands. This article discusses a few strategies that may assist you in effectively achieving work-life balance.
According to the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER), achieving a healthy work-life balance is not a simple task. The impact of working excessively may impact you physically, as in the case of fatigue. Excessive fatigue decreases hand-eye coordination and productivity. Also, people who are exhausted are more likely to make mistakes and have accidents than those who are well-rested. Work demands may also influence our relationships with family members and friends. Whatever the impact may be, learning how to balance work and personal needs will enable you to pursue a career that is both successful and fulfilling.
Initially, it may be useful for you to keep a written log of all work and personal activities for one week. This will enable you to identify exactly how much time you are devoting to each domain. Based on this log, decide what activities are necessary and which ones are not. Then, determine what things you enjoy the most and work to eliminate tasks that you do not enjoy, provided that they are not imperative for your career success.
Learning to say no may also be important in achieving work-life balance. Realize that you are not required to take on every additional task that people may ask of you. This principle applies to both work and personal interactions. For instance, at work, you may not need to volunteer to host the annual Holiday Party, while with your personal life, you may not need to agree to direct your children's Holiday Play. Assess what time you have available and only agree to tasks you can realistically (and comfortably) accomplish.
Time management is another strategy for achieving work-life balance. Consider the possibility of taking care of all career responsibilities while at work or school, so that when you are at home, you can have some down time. Rather than saving all of your household chores for the weekend, consider doing 10 minutes of chores a day during the work week, so that you have some relaxation time on the weekends. You may want to set aside one day a week for only leisure-related activities and protect that time from work or personal life demands.
Self-nurturing is another essential strategy for managing the demands of work and personal life. This may include relaxing and de-stressing activities such as exercise, meditation, rest, or listening to peaceful music. Also, make sure you get enough sleep and maintain a healthy diet. In order for your life to feel balanced, the body needs to be balanced.
The ideas presented here are some strategies for achieving a healthy balance between work and personal responsibilities. However, we also want to emphasize that seeking professional counseling for assistance with these issues may be very useful. Everyone needs help from time to time. If you are struggling with managing the stress of graduate school on your own, please consult your doctor or a professional counselor. Most graduate programs provide some type of health insurance coverage for counseling or you may consider seeking the expertise of a community counseling organization that provides services based on a sliding fee scale.
Balancing the demands of career and personal responsibilities is not a simple task, but it is possible. Remember that this process may take place over time, so be patient with yourself as you develop coping skills. Also, reassess your life every few months to determine how you are doing with work-life balance and adjust your activities accordingly. Consulting other scholars or professionals in the field may also be a fruitful area of discussion, as seasoned academics have often dealt with such demands and may be able to guide you in achieving this delicate balance.
Reference
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (2008). Work-life balance: Ways to restore harmony and reduce stress. Retrieved on August, 20th, 2008 from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/work-life-balance/WL00056
