b'| SELF CARE GUIDESteadying the Work/Life ScaleFor healthcare workers, switching off from work is no small feat. But balance is imperative to delivering quality careBy Mark McGrawW e here in the United States couldWork/life balance has long been an issue fornot at all surprisingly, healthcare workers who stand to learn a work/life balanceAmerican workers, and those in the health- achieve some sense of work/life balance are lesson from our friends in thecare profession are no different. Experts urgemore likely to be happy in their jobs and less Netherlands.the healthcare profession to put more empha- inclined to seek out a new profession.Each year, the Organization for Economicsis on rest and a bit less on work, and predictFor example, consider recent research that Cooperation and Development creates thethat patient care would improve as a result.finds healthcare workers with higher levels OECD Better Life Index, an interactive toolof work/life balance also report feeling less designed to compare well-being across coun- FINDING BOUNDARIES burnout.tries, using 11 dimensions of overall healthThe long shifts and demanding, unpredict- Unfortunately, many healthcare workers the organization deems essential to quality ofable nature of working in a hospital can makehave yet to develop what Max Frenzel, PhD life, such as education, income, housing andswitching off from the job especially tough.and Fitchs Time Off co-author, describes as civic engagement. John Fitch, a start-up coach and co-authora rest ethic.Work/life balance is another of the 11of Time Off, an upcoming book designed toBoth he and Fitch say that throwing oneself indicators, and the Netherlands took the topprovide practices that help individuals bal- into their personal time with the same inten-spot in this category in 2019. With an over- ance their professional and personal lives,sity they bring to their work is vital to finding all work/life balance score of 9.5 out of 10,illustrates the unique challenge that health- true equilibrium between work and leisure.Dutch employees reported not working overlycare workers face in this regard.Without a solid rest ethic, any profes-long hours, and having more time for lei- A software designer can close the laptopsional will become burned out, says Frenzel. sure activities and sleeping, for example. Italyand press pause for the day. The designs andAnd the more the burnout meter goes up, the and Denmark ranked second and third, withcode will still be there to address the next[more that] creativity, effective decision mak-scores of 9.4 and 9.0, respectively. day, says Fitch. But for a nurse or a doctor,ing, clear communication and enthusiasm The United States, meanwhile, barelysometimes they cant say no. It is a matter ofmeters go down.cracked the top 30, ranking 27th out of 40life and death. Healthcare workers are pas- He also urges healthcare workers to share countries overall. For example, the U.S. seessionate about helping people, and when theretheir symptoms when that burnout meter those with jobs dedicating 14.4 hours a day tois an almost endless stream of people whostarts to tick upward. leisure and personal care; good for 30th outneed their care, it can easily feel like the work- If you are feeling burned out, simply open of the 40 countries the OECD includes in itsload never ends. up about it to your team and leaders. Dont ISTOCKannual index.Its a difficult juggling act, to be sure. But,hold it in. Nobody wins if a professional is www.elitecme.com |2020| SELF CARE GUIDE 19'