In a recent Women In Optometry Pop-up Poll, the majority of the respondents shared that their work-life balance is not evenly distributed.
Approximately 15 percent of the respondents said they prioritize time for themselves on a daily basis, and more than two-thirds of respondents said they try to gain me-time, ranging from several times per week to several times per month.
Although more than 75 percent of respondents said they prioritize time for themselves, many feel that they do seldom get enough me-time and that it is the first thing to get sacrificed. This is five times more than respondents who answered that they get enough me-time for the big and little things.
RECHARGE ACTIVELY OR QUIETLY?
Approximately 60 percent of respondents said they prefer to have me-time in solitude, using the quiet time to recharge and relax from work-related stress and busyness. Reading, meditation, yoga, journaling and art are common quiet relaxation activities. The second-most preferred relaxation was social time with friends and/or a partner, doing something everyone can enjoy.
ONGOING COVID-19 IMPACTS
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted self-care in various ways. More than half of the respondents shared that the pandemic made it harder for them to find time to recharge and relax. While about a third of the respondents said that the pandemic made it easier for them to find me-time. In contrast, six percent of the respondents shared that the pandemic environment did not affect their self-care schedule.
The majority of respondents were female ODs (71.8 percent).
