WORK-LIFE BALANCE - IN HONG KONG

Dr Genevieve Goulding, Brisbane CSM 2011

WORK-LIFE BALANCE

1. What it is2. Why it is important3. Keeping balanced4. Recognising imbalance5. Strategies for achieving balance6. Cultural differences between ANZ & Hong

Kong

1. WORK-LIFE BALANCE – WHAT IS IT?

Definition

The amount of time you spend doing your job compared with the amount of time you spend with your family and doing things you enjoy

work-life balance

(Definition of work-life balance noun from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)

Work vs. the rest of your life• It does not mean an equal balance• It will change with time and life events• It is unique for every individual• It comprises ACHIEVEMENT, ENJOYMENT &

ENERGY• ENJOYMENT is not limited to happiness – it is

also pride, satisfaction, celebration and joy of life

Jim Bird: Work-Life Balance.com

Why is it important?

• Possibly, work is increasing in intensity (hours, technology, customer demands, availability)

• Possibly, quality of home and community life is decreasing (e.g nuclear families, latchkey kids, urbanisation, impact of technology in the home)

• Social consequences of the above

Why is it important?• Our level of personal satisfaction and wellbeing at

work, at home and in life affect our behaviour at work, at home and in our community.

• Our behaviour has an impact on our work colleagues, family and friends and our community.

Why is it important?

Too much energy into work and too little energy into rest, family and leisure has a negative effect on wellbeing which may result in burnout

BURNOUT

• Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. You feel overwhelmed and unable to meet constant demands. As the stress continues, you begin to lose the interest or motivation that led you to take on a certain role in the first place.

• Burnout reduces your productivity and saps your energy, leaving you feeling increasingly helpless, hopeless, cynical, and resentful.

• Eventually, you may feel like you have nothing more to give.

Recognising Imbalance

Exercise - Recognising Imbalance

Wellness Wheel – Achievement, Enjoyment & Energy

Physical Health – include sleep, energy levels

Spiritual Health (Not necessarily religion)

Religion is more to do with rituals and conforms to scripted dogma and system of belief. Spirituality on the other hand is free flowing and is to do with connectedness with one’s inner self to the world and the direction, meaning and purpose of one’s life.

Strategies for achieving balance See Handout from Assure Programs

Keeping balanced

1. Self-awareness (the need to do something)2. Time management (managing conflicting

demands)3. Goal setting (what needs to change)4. Problem solving (remove the obstacles)5. Stress management (managing pressure)6. Assertiveness and saying ‘no’ (managing

others)

Cultural differences between ANZ & HK which may influence work-life

balance

Cultural Differences – please discuss

• The cultural value of being a doctor• Employer-employee environment including:

Working hours, Remuneration, Provision of maternity leave and ability to work part-time

• Assertiveness in the workplace• Availability of home help• Extended family vs nuclear family• Attitudes to the elderly• Asian medicine and spiritual practices such as Tai Chi,

Feng Shui etc