Two ASCP Members Share How They Achieve Work-Life Balance at the Holidays

The holidays are a joyous time of year. Yet even the most organized individuals can get harried trying to squeeze out extra minutes in the day to juggle a busy work load with family commitments. Two seasoned ASCP members share their tips on how to make the most of this season and still keep up at work.

Working in a reference lab, Michelle Campbell, MLS(ASCP)^CM, MB(ASCP)^CM, says her workload is often at its highest at the end of the year. It’s also a time when the lab has the lowest staff levels, as many colleagues go on vacation.

“Since I cannot control my workload, I try to focus on the things I can control,” Mrs. Campbell says. “So, I start a to-do list. This means starting holiday planning and shopping early.”

She advises others to get as much done for the December holidays before school lets out for the winter break. That way, you can enjoy the time you have your family members at home and won't feel the added stress of shopping and planning holiday meals or gatherings. If needed, take a day or two off after Thanksgiving or in early December to do errands.

Kay Washington, MD, PhD, FASCP, scales back her expectations of what can be accomplished at work in order to prioritize holiday activities when possible. “The service work and patient care are always my top priority at work; sometimes grant deadlines intervene, but many research projects can be put on the back burner until after the holidays,” she says.

Despite best efforts, you might find that accomplishing all the traditional holiday activities are still causing stress. If that’s the case, Dr. Washington suggests having an honest discussion with family members about what aspects of the holidays they really treasure. 

“You may find that adult family members are glad to drop or scale back some activities, and older kids may remember simple activities that resonate with them. Delegating work when feasible is also a good strategy, and hiring help for some tasks may alleviate some of the burden. In the end, don’t sweat the small stuff. Just enjoy!”