Healthcare worker struggling to maintain work life balance
A reader wrote:
My 26-year-old daughter, who works as a team leader in a micro lab on second shift, finds it difficult to balance work and life. In her workplace, there are insufficient staff and insufficiently trained team members, making it difficult for her to refuse additional tasks and overtime shifts. Due to the possibility of patients suffering if the work is not completed, she feels personally responsible for completing it and is exhausted and burnt out.
Although it can be difficult for your daughter to say no when patient care is at risk, she needs to prioritize her own well-being and mental health in order to provide the best possible care for her patients.
- Prioritize tasks: Encourage your daughter to prioritize her tasks based on their importance and urgency. This can help her manage her workload and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
- Create a schedule: Encourage your daughter to create a daily schedule that includes specific times for work, personal activities, and downtime. This can help her prioritize her time and ensure that she has enough time for both work and personal activities.
- Make time for self-care: Working second shifts can be exhausting, so it's important for your daughter to prioritize self-care activities like exercise, meditation, or spending time with loved ones. Encourage her to schedule regular self-care activities into her daily routine.
- Set boundaries: It's important for your daughter to set boundaries between work and personal life. Encourage her to avoid checking work emails or taking work calls during her personal time.
- Take breaks: Even if it feels like there's no time to spare, encourage your daughter to take short breaks throughout the day to recharge and refocus. Even just a few minutes of deep breathing or stretching can help reduce stress and improve focus.
- Learn to say no: If your daughter feels like she is taking on too much, it's important for her to learn to say no to additional work or responsibilities.
- Communicate with her manager: If your daughter is struggling to maintain a work-life balance, encourage her to communicate with her manager. Her manager may be able to adjust her schedule or workload to better accommodate her personal needs.
- Seek support: Encourage your daughter to seek support from friends, family, or a therapist if she is feeling overwhelmed or stressed. Having a support system can help her manage stress and maintain a better work-life balance.
- Practice self-compassion: It's important for your daughter to be kind to herself and recognize that she can only do so much. Encourage her to practice self-compassion and avoid self-criticism

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