Work-Life Balance in Public Health: 5 Game-Changing Strategies
Work-life balance can feel elusive, especially in the high-stakes world of public health. However, Marissa McKool’s session in the Public Health Club shared actionable strategies to help you prioritize your well-being without sacrificing your career. These tips are essential for anyone looking to thrive in public health. The full session is available on-demand for Public Health Club members—don’t miss out!
Key Strategies:
Schedule Yourself First: Block time on your calendar for personal priorities like lunch, workouts, or even a short walk—and stick to it.
Set Email Boundaries: Remove work email from your phone to avoid being "on" 24/7. Start with a trial period and notice how it feels.
Take Mini Breaks: Schedule 10-minute breaks after meetings to process tasks or decompress before diving into the next item.
Practice "How Human of Me": Shift your mindset to embrace mistakes as part of being human—not a failure.
Unplug Weekly: Dedicate one day each week to rest and disconnect completely from work tasks.
Detailed Strategy Breakdown:
Scheduling Yourself First: Research has shown that blocking personal time improves productivity. Use color-coded calendar entries to differentiate between personal and professional commitments.
Boundaries with Email: Marissa shared a script for communicating email boundaries to your team. Try: "I’ll respond to emails during regular working hours to ensure I’m fully present and efficient."
Breaks and Recovery: Implement a timer to remind yourself to step away, even for 5 minutes, and use that time to hydrate or stretch.
Deep Reflection on Balance: Set aside time every Sunday to reflect on your upcoming week and identify areas where you need to enforce stronger boundaries.
Want to dive deeper into these strategies and learn how to implement them effectively? Join the Public Health Club to watch the full session on-demand and start transforming your work-life balance today.
