The holidays are the most wonderful time of the year … or are they?
Work-life balance is challenging all year long, but it takes on a whole new level of importance during the holiday season.
You work in healthcare. The seasonal hustle and bustle is happening all around you, but there’s no way you can shirk patient care duties in the midst of it all. Work-life balance takes on a new look, starting around Thanksgiving and lasting until the ball drops at Times Square and the New Year is underway.
Here are a few tips for maintaining a healthy work-life balance and taking care of yourself while still excelling at your job during November and December:
Prioritize self-care.
Think of those guidelines around oxygen on a plane. Put your self-care “mask” on before trying to help others. In other words, prioritize your own health and well-being by doing whatever it takes to stay physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually healthy this holiday season.
Set boundaries.
Speaking of self-care, now is the time to be crystal clear about your needs and how you can meet them while still excelling at work.
- Just say no. Don’t feel guilty for declining extra shifts or turning down invitations to holiday events or social obligations. Maintain a healthy balance, even if it means staying at home some evenings watching It’s a Wonderful Life or Miracle on 34th Street with a piping bowl of popcorn.
- By the same token, don’t be too isolated. Even if it entails spending an hour or two at your workplace happy hour, go for it. Enter that Secret Santa thing and get involved in that holiday food drive. It can do wonders for your attitude while still keeping those boundaries intact.
Practice time management.
Brush your time management skills to effectively divide your time between work and personal commitments around the holidays.
- Build a few minutes into each day’s schedule to reflect on the things you’re grateful for this holiday season. It will be time well spent. Maybe it’s your own good health, friendships, and other relationships, or simply having a roof over your head and food on your table. This attitude of gratitude will help lower stress and bring more joy into your personal and professional life.
Do a digital detox.
Make an effort to reduce screen time during the holidays. Designate specific times to check your devices, then turn off any unnecessary notifications. Encourage more personal and face-to-face interactions, such as game nights, gift exchanges, and walks outdoors.
Time for a change?
As the holiday season unfolds and 2025 kicks off, are you looking for your next great healthcare job? Maybe it’s your New Year’s resolution to find the opportunity that genuinely does offer that much-needed work-life balance.
A healthcare co-operative is the right solution for an increasing number of professionals. To learn more about co-ops and healthcare opportunities with top facilities in California and nationwide, contact AlliedUP Co-Op today.
Join us for our next FREE webinar “AlliedUP Career Coaching: Ready, Set, Success in 2025!” on December 17th. Register here.
