Balancing life and medicine

At the University of Bolton, creating a warm and inclusive space is a big part of what we do. We’re acutely aware of the demands of medical education and want to stress the importance of creating good study-life and work-life balance practices for the future. So, in this piece, we’ll dive into strategies for that balance - pursuing hobbies and interests while finding outlets for creativity or relaxation - so you’re outfitted with all the tools you need for balancing life and medicine.

Defining work-life balance

So, what do we mean by work-life balance? As you enter your career, it will come to mean the proportion spent in the workplace versus the time spent out of it. But, as a student, it can mean the time you devote to study is set against your hobbies, social life and relaxation time. In this piece, we’ll use both interchangeably to mean creating healthy habits around how much time you spend working or studying versus doing other activities. This is very important in medicine. The consequences of imbalanced lifestyles are burnout, stress and mental health concerns. Plus, if you’re not at your best, how can you provide a good standard of care for others? So, let’s look at some strategies for creating a balance between your responsibilities and your leisure time.

Tips for work-life balance

The key ways to create equilibrium in your life are time management, setting clear boundaries, leaning on support systems and taking care of your body. Let’s explore each.

● Time management - here you want to create rigour around your schedule and productivity. You might try to eat the frog or practice time-blocking. Tools like Asana and Monday.com may help you with formal work tasks, or you could just try the Google Calendar integration for your phone to keep a current diary. Knowing that everything has an allocated time will reduce the stress or anxiety you feel around getting things done

● Setting boundaries - when you want to help people, it can be very hard to say ‘no’. But you must make yourself comfortable with refusing requests on your time and taking on too much, if you want to avoid burnout. You might also try delegating. This is where you offload non-essential or extra tasks to someone else. That might be a colleague at work or a freelancer or cleaner. Having someone else take load off your plate can free you up to put your best efforts towards what remains

● Getting support - your family, friends and peer networks are there to be a source of strength and a sounding board. Lean on them if you need to weigh different options or for help with any overload you might be facing at home. They will have unique perspectives and ideas that might get you over any hurdle and back on an even keel. Remember that they are just there to give advice. In the end, you need to do what you feel is best for your body and mind

● Self-care - getting good sleep, eating healthy food and taking time to relax will make a huge difference to your stress levels. Be sure to prioritise doing things that make you feel good. This could be participating in a pilates class, getting a regular sports massage, practising meditation, putting phones away an hour before bed or any other enriching routine that helps you unwind and look after yourself. While it might seem extra, setting clear and healthy rules for your life that you always follow can actually provide you with a sense of comfort and calm

Why hobbies matter

Life can’t just be work and family. People need outlets to give back, have fun or express themselves creatively. If you aren’t sure what you like, spend some time reflecting on activities that bring you joy. How can you make time in your schedule regularly to do those things? It’s not always obvious, by the way. You will want to really put some time in to think!

Pursuing your interests and passions can reduce stress, stimulate your mind and increase your overall well-being. And you can have several! You might like volunteering to help people learn how to use technology at your local community centre, holding children’s craft sessions at church, practising karate at lunch, playing video games with friends in the evening and bingeing the latest reality TV show on weekends. Make a list of the things you really like and find a way to make room for them as a regular part of your day-to-day life.

Things to try

Not sure what gets you going? Here’s a list of some popular hobbies and stress relievers for you to incorporate into your week.

Creative expression

● Writing - fiction writing, poetry, memoirs, screenwriting, playwriting, blogging

● Visual arts - drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, collage, photography

● Music - playing musical instruments, songwriting, composition, music production

● Performing arts - acting, dance, improv, stand-up, puppetry

● Design - graphic design, interior design, fashion design

● Culinary arts - cooking, baking, cake decorating, food styling

● Digital arts - animation, motion graphics, digital illustration, 3D modelling

Sports & movement

● Football
● Rugby
● Cricket
● Tennis
● Hockey
● Athletics
● Cyling
● Handball

 Relaxation

● Meditation
● Yoga
● Reading
● Listening to music
● Bubble baths
● Painting
● Tai Chi

University of Bolton wellness resources

As a supportive and inclusive University, we have a range of services that can help you with balancing life and medicine. Our student wellness outlets at the Life Lounge include access to a Mental Health Advisor, CBT Clinic and Counselling. Just fill out a quick registration form to access these services here. On the academic side, why not get help via tutoring, study groups and the time management strategies suggested by your instructors. Our library recommends these books on the subject. And, speaking of libraries, there are a wide range of campus facilities that can enrich your study-life balance from recreation centres to green spaces for relaxation. You don’t need to go far to find ways to unwind. Just spending a few minutes outside on campus each day can really uplift your mood and reinvigorate you.

So, in conclusion, it’s really clear that balancing life and medicine is important. We’ve shared a lot of ways to do this from making time for self-care to taking up a hobby and applying a proven methodology to how you plan your day. The great news is that if you put a little thought into it, you can succeed at both - enjoying a fulfilling work-life and study-life balance. And the end result of all this effort will be improved standards of patient care and more innovation when you eventually join the medical profession. Plus, there’s no wrong way to do it. Applying just a few of these proven techniques while you’re still in education can have a profound impact on your work wellness practices in a healthcare setting later on.

If you want more support on your journey, why not reach out to our helpful team? We’re here to help you experience #UniAsItShouldBe, so why not email us at at enquiries@bolton.ac.uk or call on 01204 952 747 now?