• Question: Would you say you are able to achieve a good work-life balance?

    Asked by Tash to Chris, Emma, Jonathan, Katharine, Shehla, Simon on 13 Jun 2017. This question was also asked by 693gena36, Hashim.
    • Photo: Jonathan Harte

      Jonathan Harte answered on 13 Jun 2017:

      I’m getting better at it, slowly.
      What I know more now – is that work can wait until the next day even medicine.
      This is long game so trying to everything the same day will only lead to burn out and stress, its essential to manage your own wellbeing.
      Think what would you tell a patient infront of you who presented with work stress and was working long hours?

    • Photo: Emma Rowe

      Emma Rowe answered on 13 Jun 2017:

      Now, I would definitely say yes.
      Had you asked me a year ago, then definitely no.
      I think that comes with experience and confidence. As a Student Nurse and Newly Qualified Nurse I worried a lot about everything, even the smallest details. Now that I have more experience, I understand that at 2am, I really cannot do anything about Patient X and I can go back to sleep and deal with it in the morning.
      A year ago, I was still getting to grips with being a nurse and studying for a Post Grad degree part time so a lot of my time was thinking about work. Now, I try to only think about work when I am at work, rather than when I am at home. I have more hobbies now to occupy my free time!

    • Photo: Katharine Bradbury

      Katharine Bradbury answered on 13 Jun 2017:

      I have a young daughter and I work part time so my work life balance is good. I try to completely focus on work when I’m at work and give my full attention to my home life when I’m at home – although it’s not always easy.

    • Photo: Christopher Symonds

      Christopher Symonds answered on 14 Jun 2017:

      I am very lucky as my contract allows me to work very flexibly. This means that some weeks I work longer hours so that I can take the time owing back another week to play golf or be involved with family activities. The clinicians are more tied to clinic times etc so find it harder.

    • Photo: Simon Browes

      Simon Browes answered on 14 Jun 2017:

      I have to work quite hard to achieve it! Learning to say “no” is not easy. I try to plan time off and make sure I get regular breaks. My advice is to take advantage of the easier days when they do come along and enjoy them. Work hard when you have to and make sure you look after yourself, so that you can look after others.

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