Work-Life Integration

1. Work-Life Integration Julie Welch, MD Department of Emergency Medicine Indiana University School of Medicine IU Health - Methodist Hospital EMTC jlwelch@iupui.edu

2. Why does it matter? • Defining “Work-Life” • Developing your Work-Life Integration Strategy • Tips and Tools Work-Life Integration Outline:

3. Work-Life “Balance” & “Integration” “Balance” “Integration” Feeling derived from being whole and complete Avoid viewing it as a scale of taking from one to give to another Creating harmony in your life Cultivating the areas of your life that are truly important Mixture of…

4. Why does it matter? • Workplace culture is changing • Major recruitment and retention issue • Research: Work Life Balance is a Priority

5. Why does it matter? • Workplace culture is changing • Gender divide is narrowing : workforce 50% women • More dual-career couples • Shared child/family care responsibilities • Generational issue no longer • Early career physicians want predictability • Phased retirement

6. Why does it matter? • Workplace culture is changing • Major recruitment and retention issue • Flexibility is #1 issue to keep good talent • Schedules • Work Life Policies (Family leave, childcare, elder care, benefits…)

7. Why does it matter? • Workplace culture is changing • Major recruitment and retention issue • Work Life Balance is a priority • Theme of needs assessments of students, residents, faculty

8. Do physicians succeed at work-life balance? • Failure of work life integration leads to: STRESS • Spillover • Crossover • Physicians are at higher risk of: • Divorce • Substance abuse • Depression/ Anxiety • Domestic Violence

9. Career/ Life Satisfaction (3 studies of 8,094 physicians total) Career Satisfaction: 79% Work-Life Balance Satisfaction: 37-48%

10. Career/ Life Satisfaction (3 studies of 8,094 physicians total) Career Satisfaction: 79% Work-Life Balance Satisfaction: 37-48% Factors that were NOT strong predictors of career satisfaction, work-life balance, or burnout: • Gender • Age • Specialty

11. Career/ Life Satisfaction (3 studies of 8,094 physicians total) Career Satisfaction: 79% Work-Life Balance Satisfaction: 37-48% • + predictors: • Income • Academic career • - predictors: • Working > 50hr/wk • Full owner practice • Reliance on managed care • Uncontrollable lifestyle

12. Career/ Life Satisfaction (3 studies of 8,094 physicians total) Career Satisfaction: 79% Work-Life Balance Satisfaction: 37-48% • + predictors: • Control over schedule • Working part time <40 hr/wk • Married, partnered • Having children • - predictors: • Working full time >40 hrs/wk • Divorced/separated

13. Career/ Life Satisfaction (3 studies of 8,094 physicians total) Career Satisfaction: 79% Work-Life Balance Satisfaction: 37-48% • + predictors: • Income • Academic career • - predictors: • Working > 50hr/wk • Full owner practice • Reliance on managed care • Uncontrollable lifestyle • + predictors: • Control over schedule • Working part time <40 hr/wk • Married, partnered • Having children • - predictors: • Working full time >40 hrs/wk • Divorced/separated

14. What does “Work-Life” mean to you? “WORK” • Career Activities • Consider areas of: • Patient care • Education • Research • Service “LIFE” • Relationships • Personal well being • Physical • Mental • Spiritual • Hobbies/ Passions

15. WORK: My Emergency Medicine Career • EM physician level one trauma center • Academic faculty at a medical school • Primary patient care • Educate • Scholarship • Service • Mentor • Fellowship • Dean’s Office of Faculty Development

16. WORK: My Emergency Medicine Career • Other EM opportunities during my career:

17. LIFE: My Other “Career” • Relationships • Dual physician marriage (to an EM physician) • Mother of 2 busy boys • Sister, aunt, and daughter • Network of friends, mentors, mentees • Personal well being • musician, exercise, travel, cooking, church

18. “Work Life Integration” factors: Work- Life

19. Understand what motivates you? 3 elements: • Autonomy • Mastery • Purpose

20. Individual Development Plan & Work-Life Integration Strategy Tools for Planning, Inspiring, and Integrating your Professional & Personal Goals Develop your own plan:

21. Complete annually • “SMART” (assess viability) • Share with mentor/ spouse • Reflect on advice • Actively implement • Follow progress and revise IDP &Work-Life Integration Strategy

22. “Opportunity is Knocking” Tool to objectively evaluate a new opportunity Planning worksheet exercise:

23. 10 Work Life Integration Tips

24. Work-Life Integration Tips • Focus on your values and priorities. • Make an Individual Development Plan • Set and know your limits and boundaries • With a new opportunity – don’t say “yes” immediately • Protect your time

25. Work-Life Integration Tips 2. Hone your time management skills. • Find your time wasters • Utilize all available time (listen to audio CME on drive)

26. Work-Life Integration Tips 3. Get ORGANIZED! • Keep a “TO DO” list, Prioritize, Retrograde plan • Email Strategy • Empty inbox (4 D’s – do, delegate, delete, decision) • Schedule time vs on-the-go phone/ipad(limit 2-3x day) • Turn off interrupting dings

27. Work-Life Integration Tips 4. Find a “usable” calendar system. • Easy, sharable, real-time, integrative • Share it with family and caregivers • Plan your vacations/ personal/ family time in advance • Schedule time for yourself (exercise, spa, writing)

28. Work-Life Integration Tips 5. Establish a mentor network. • At work • Career guidance, advice, sponsorship, skill acquisition • At home • make friends with other families in your neighborhood.

29. Work-Life Integration Tips 6. Double Dip. • With every project, find a second goal it could satisfy. • Turn a lecture or program into scholarship • Combine the activities you love with your family/friends.

30. Work-Life Integration Tips • Know the Work-Life Policies of your employer. • Family Leave policies • Part-time policies / flexibility in scheduling • Childcare options (on-site, back-up sick care) • Academic center – promotion and tenure clocks

31. Work-Life Integration Tips • Cultivate relationships with family and friends. • Family time, date-night, & “no electronic” times • With your partner : communication is the key! • Be accountable to someone in your life (mentor, spouse, friend)

32. Work-Life Integration Tips 9. Invest in Family/Home Responsibilities. • Foster teamwork – coordinate/ delegate activities and chores. • Find reliable childcare and have backup. • “Hire it done!” (house cleaning, yard work, food delivery) • Keep numbers for home/car repairs accessible.

33. Work-Life Integration Tips • Build Healthy Personal Habits. (physical, mental, spiritual well-being) • Exercise, eat healthy, sleeping habits • Read, relax, hobby, music • Let go of guilt & maintain a sense of humor!

34. Questions: jlwelch@iupui.edu