Finding the Right “Balance” for the Trainee

I am honored to serve as Editor-in-Chief of the ACG Case Reports Journal for the 2015-2016 academic year. For the inaugural perspective, we will explore a prevalent issue for trainees that is infrequently discussed: the elusive work-life balance. Fellowship encompasses a complex chapter of our lives. We stand at the crossroads of impassioned career aspirations and growing responsibilities (relationships, parenthood, financial investments), while trying to maintain our personal well-being. If you ever feel overwhelmed during training, rest assured that you are not alone. Even more daunting is that the transition from trainee to faculty introduces multiple, unanticipated stressors and responsibilities, further challenging the balance between personal life and work life. It is thus imperative that, as trainees, we begin to understand which activities bring meaning to us and determine how to achieve our goals. After speaking with mentors and observing those around me, it's apparent that dichotomous schools of thought exist surrounding the work–life balance paradigm. Some maintain a complete work-personal life separation, disconnecting from work responsibilities after hours and over the weekends. Others feel that this binary framework creates an artificial divide, pitting professional and personal against each other, and prefer to blur the work-personal lifelines. These dueling approaches are often a source of frustration for the trainee in pursuit of balanced success. Is tipping the balance towards work while sacrificing family time and personal well-being requisite to being a national thought leader or exceptional clinician? Does striving to create a balance and separation between work and personal life inevitably close the door to career advancement? Interestingly, an emerging concept negates both notions and suggests that the very idea of " balance " may be the true source of conflict. Rather than juggling distinct realms of our life, should we focus on aligning our commitments and choices with our aspirations so they coexist and develop hand-in-hand? Work and life are connected, and both should be nurtured. This Zen-like philosophy sounds simplistic in theory, but this big-picture approach may empower each of us to invest in the most personally meaningful endeavors and shed the less gratifying tasks. Surely each individual's approach to the work–life quandary will vary, and simple solutions do not exist. However, these pearls of wisdom that I've collected from mentors and personal experiences, may prove helpful regardless of the path one embarks upon.