Introduce myself Pam Vallely 29th October 2014 The Work-Life Balance

Plan Brief Introduction from me – 15 mins. Discussion groups – 30 mins Feedback and group discussion – 30 mins Toolkit John Sulston

Pam Vallely John Sulston

My Roles… Associate Dean in FMHS Academic Lead for Microbiology & Virology Unit Professor – Research & Teaching (Medical Virology) External – Examiner, National Healthcare Science Committees, Society Exec. Member, Journal Editorial Board etc. John Sulston

My Roles… Mum Foster Mum Wife Daughter Sister Friend Dog Owner Caravan Owner John Sulston

Signs & Symptoms You’ve given up sports/hobbies/pastimes you used to love Work causes family arguments You forget/no time to eat lunch You can’t bear to be parted from your phone/laptop…even at bedtime! You sometimes forget family birthdays/anniversaries You’ve lost touch with friends you enjoy seeing You WiFi is your most important holiday destination criteria.. Longer and longer working hours.. John Sulston

So what…? Decreased productivity Physical toll; stress, tiredness, poor diet, lack of exercise, ill health, depression Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, prescription drugs, illegal drugs.. Possibly….Burn out! A loss of sense of purpose in undertaking work Negative or cynical attitudes towards colleagues or students Avoiding contact with colleagues Reliance on rules and procedures rather than use of creative thought Presenteeism John Sulston

Let’s discuss… 1. What factors contribute to work-life imbalance? 2. Can an organisation grow without staff who work long hours? 3. Can my career flourish if I’m not prepared to work long hours? What can the University do to help? What can I do to help myself and others? John Sulston

Feedback and Group Discussion John Sulston

Work-Life Balance Tips 1. Reboot; Remind yourself why you became an academic in the first place Create your own personal definition of success 2. Set some boundaries and stick to them 3. Schedule time with family and friends 4. Take regular exercise 5. Find ways to switch off mentally 6. Watch for signs of burn-out 7. Investigate ways to work smarter 8. Take regular short breaks 9. Get some perspective by talking to a mentor John Sulston

Work-Life Balance Toolkit http://www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/personalsupport/ Stress at Work Policy http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/display.aspx?DocID=31 Wellbeing Agenda Email Hell to Heaven http://www.expert-messaging.com John Sulston

What happens now…? John Sulston