There’s no denying that we can all benefit from proper work-life balance, yet these last few years have certainly tested our strength as health care providers. At MacLeod Cares, we believe that happy staff leads to happy residents and both of those are very important to our organization.

Maintaining a good work-life balance will not only support your overall health and relationships, but it will also help you perform at your best when caring for others. We encourage you to make your own health a top priority – always! Here are some things you can do to get you started:

Figure out what’s right for YOU!

Every one is different – what might work for you may be the opposite for your colleague. Take a little time to self-reflect on why/how your work-life balance has been impacted and what changes could help improve it. For some it may be as simple as having some quiet time outside for their lunch hour. For others, it could be a change in scheduling or external factors like transportation, daycare etc.

Set Small Goals.

Sometimes when we’re stressed or overwhelmed, even the smallest tasks can become quite significant. Setting specific goals for your day can help. Prioritize the critical tasks and be realistic with your workload. Schedule the non-critical items throughout the day/week and check them off the list when they are done. If you feel your workload is unmanageable for you, don’t hesitate to talk to your manager about how you’re feeling. Your health and happiness comes first!

Take the Break.

Care work is certainly busy and there’s not often a lot of down time. That’s why it’s so important to take advantage of any time off that you do have. Even the act of leaving work during your break or lunch can help clear your mind and help you reset. The drive to/from work is a great time to listen to your favourite music, catch up with a friend or just enjoy the quiet. However you choose to fill your time, just make sure it includes time for yourself!

If you would like more resources or support for improving your work-life balance, don’t hesitate to reach out to your manager or our MacLeod Cares HR team.