Work-life balance in the NHS as a female leader – is it achievable?

If you work in any leadership role in the NHS, you’re used to juggling many different responsibilities in an incredibly fast paced and demanding environment. It can be fulfilling and challenging, and it can also be overwhelming and exhausting.

Over the last 30 years I’ve experienced it first hand, both as a nurse and, more recently, coaching a diverse selection of NHS leaders who are stepping into their next level of leadership.

This newsletter explores what you can put in place to achieve a sustainable work-life balance and help you manage your time and priorities. Finding a balance needn’t be the elusive goal it probably feels like, even when you work in the NHS.

The difficulties of maintaining a work-life balance as a leader in the NHS

In my experience most people in the NHS are passionate about delivering high quality patient care. However, they find themselves continually consumed by the pressures of a heavy workload, tight deadlines and demanding job responsibilities.

When you’re striving to do the best you can with the limited resources and support you have available, one of the biggest casualties is your work-life balance.

Boundaries between your work and professional life get blurred. You’re accessible all of the time through your phone, which means you can’t fully disconnect from work during non-working hours.

Plus, the desire to excel in your role can lead to you taking on more responsibilities than you can realistically handle.

All of this means you work even longer hours and sacrifice your personal time to meet your work commitments.

What’s the answer?

The NHS isn’t going to get less busy, nor are patients going to go away.

Which means if you want to avoid the risks of stress and burnout, you have to put something in place to help you address the challenges you’re facing so you can attain and maintain both physical and mental wellbeing in both your professional and personal life.

How to achieve a work-life balance in the NHS as a female leader

8 Recommendations for you to consider

🔹Delegate. Easier said than done, but once implemented, delegation will free up more time than you think. Plus, it will empower your team members and help them with their professional development.

Begin by making a list of all your main tasks then divide it into three sections. The first set of tasks are those that only you can do. The second are the ones you want to do because you like doing them [and you’re good at them!] and the last section should be those that can be done by others.

Start by allocating the third section to key team members who with a little support and guidance, have the capability to take them on.

Worried about delegating to your team? Read my blog post all about delegation and empowerment.

🔹Set boundaries. This is one of the most important leadership skills you will ever learn. Protect your hard-earned time off by establishing clear boundaries between your work and personal life.

Stop checking emails or taking work calls out of your designated work hours.

It’s as important communicating and maintaining boundaries, as it is to set them.

Let people know who to contact and what to do if they can’t reach you and support them to step up their responsibilities in your absence.

🔹Ask for help. Don’t struggle on alone!

You’re not the only one in the NHS overwhelmed by work trying to tackle everything by themselves. Seek support from mentors, colleagues or a professional coach who can provide guidance and perspective on navigating leadership challenges.

Consider investing in a leadership coach [like me!] with NHS experience who understands the unique dynamics of the healthcare environment and can support you in your leadership journey.

Find out more about my NHS Leadership Transformation Coaching Programme and get in touch and we can have a chat about how I can help you.

You’d be surprised how many NHS trusts are happy to invest in their leaders and will pay for your coaching for you.

🔹Time management. Whenever I feel overwhelmed by the number of tasks I have to do, I start blocking out specific slots in my diary to get them done. This helps me stay focused and organised because I can see I have time for everything.

When you do this, it’s easy to see where you might not have enough time available to complete everything.

Reflect on the three sections of tasks again [see above] and review what can be delegated so you can complete everything in the time you do have available.

🔹Prioritise your self-care. Make this a non-negotiable part of your [daily] routine. Whether that's exercising, eating out, meditating, spending time with  loved ones or, even, curling up with a book for an hour.

Prioritise those things that give you time and space away from work that recharge you and maintain your well-being.

🔹Reach out to your network. Having a supportive network of like-minded individuals who understand the unique challenges faced by midlife female leaders in the NHS is invaluable.

And if you don’t have a network, reach out to others you know and together build your own!

A strong network will give you space to share experiences, learn from others, and gain the confidence to overcome challenges. You can also join professional organisations or attend conferences and events to add to your network and meet others.

🔹Self-reflection. This speaks for itself really, especially when it comes to your work-life balance. Taking time to reflect on your goals and priorities, helps you to gain deeper insights into yourself, your values, strengths and areas for development.

Start by asking yourself these 10 questions to evaluate where you are right now:

1.      What are my priorities in life?

2.      How do I currently spend my time?

3.      Am I setting and maintaining my boundaries effectively?

4.      Am I taking care of my physical and mental health?

5.      Do I feel fulfilled and energised outside of work?

6.      How do I feel about my current work-life balance?

7.      What adjustments can I make to improve my work-life balance?

8.      How do I define success in terms of work-life balance?

9.      Am I practising mindfulness in both my work and personal life?

10.   What support do I need to maintain a healthy work-life balance?

It’s worth revisiting these questions at regular intervals to evaluate your progress and to remind yourself why it’s important for you to achieve the work-life balance you desire.

🔹 Have your own back. You are the best person to advocate for yourself and your needs.

If you know you need to maintain your boundaries but aren’t, or if you’re not asking for help, then get curious as to why you aren’t.

What’s holding you back from what you know will help you?

Do you have a mindset that is resigned to always being at the bottom of the list, do you have perfectionist tendencies?

Are you scared of failing or making mistakes?

Only you know your internal struggles and it is in your hands to make changes to achieve continuous improvement. 

Get support with achieving your ideal work-life balance as a NHS leader

Most of the women I coach have wrestled with these 8 areas, as well as  other issues because they don’t want to let anyone else down, and as a result they overcommit.

Yet, in the long run, they recognise they’re letting themselves down.

Having someone in their corner [me!] who has their back, helps them see it can be done. Plus, the value of regular protected time with a coach where you can focus on the challenges you’re dealing with is invaluable.

Achieving a sustainable work-life balance as a senior female leader in the NHS can be done and you’re not alone in both desiring and struggling with getting it right.

However, it does require a bit of conscious effort, a proactive approach, a commitment to self-care and an investment of time into yourself.

As a leader, your ultimate goal is to support others while maintaining your own well-being. 

If you’d like coaching and mentoring support, then get in touch and find out how in partnership with your NHS trust, my NHS Leadership Transformation Coaching Programme can help you with this and any other pressing leadership challenges you’re experiencing.

I’m passionate and committed to supporting women in the NHS to thrive as successful and confident leaders and I’d love to help you to find fulfilment and balance both inside and outside of work.