Balancing Work, Family and Friends, and Lifestyle

Article Outline

• Personal Strategies
• Work Strategies
• Family and Friends
• Copyright

Discussing the balance in a person's life resembles conversations about managing stressful times. As I write this, my daughter, Eva, an accountant and tax attorney, is in the final phase of her stressful and very hectic “busy season” as the April 15th tax deadline draws near. Some people think of those stressful times as periods in which their work/life/family–friends balance is unbalanced, and personal and professional fulfillment seems very far away. The stresses in our lives often make us feel uncomfortable, nervous, and anxious. At these times we wish that our daily activities could meld better so that the stress-induced discomfort would fade away, and we would feel more balanced. Each individual has a different sense of what these entities entail, and each of us undoubtedly feels strongly about what causes stress in our life or how to balance work, play, and human relationships.

Recently, I was asked to deliver a lecture to a group of early career cardiologists attending the annual scientific sessions of the American Heart Association. It was unclear to me at the time why I was chosen for this task and was not convinced that my life represented the ideal of balanced work and lifestyle. Nevertheless, I searched the Internet for clues concerning advice about balancing one's life. In this essay, I will discuss some of the recommendations derived from this exercise in browsing combined with some personal opinion based on experience. There is no doubt in my mind that others will disagree with my priorities, but, as I have already stated, each of us will have different concepts and beliefs on this topic.

The idea of balance in life is not a new idea developed in recent years. Buddhist teachings as well as other Eastern religions and philosophies have for centuries stressed the need for a balanced life with attention directed at achieving satisfaction and happiness through meditation, as well as a conscious awareness of the moment being experienced. Navajo teachings stress a lifestyle concept called “horzho,” which indicates a balanced approach to work, family, friends, and the surrounding environment. In all of these approaches to life, individual happiness and personal satisfaction are said to result when an appropriate degree of balance is achieved in daily life.

Professional healthcare workers have very demanding educational and work schedules. Family and close friends often fail to understand the work pressures involved in our field. Despite the great physical and psychological requirements in our daily routine, most of us hope to be seen as human beings who can simultaneously involve ourselves in our families, our jobs, and our community. Given these demands, how can we achieve balance in our lives without making major sacrifices that might lead to psychological distress, indeed, a form of posttraumatic stress syndrome? I cannot claim to have the perfect solution to this conundrum. However, I will outline some of the ways that have been suggested by others and approaches that I have found to be effective.

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Personal Strategies 

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Work Strategies 

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Family and Friends 

I cannot guarantee that you will always be happy if you implement all of these strategies. In addition, few individuals will be able to implement more than half of these suggestions. I would like to ask each reader of this essay to do his/her own self-assessment to see if 1, 2, or many of these approaches to achieving balance in life might be helpful. My presentation at the American Heart Association was well received, and I can only hope that the members of the audience became motivated to find a way to keep the balance in their lives, both personal and professional. As always, I welcome comments at jalpert@email.arizona.edu or on our blog at amjmedicine@g.mail.com.