With the summer holidays in full swing, Robin Clark, Bupa medical director, shares the health benefits of maintaining a balanced lifestyle.
In our fast-paced lives, striking the right balance of work, family time and social occasions isn’t easy.
During the summer months, managing workplace responsibilities while also making the most of time with loved ones can feel like a juggle. However, achieving a good balance can significantly support both physical and mental wellbeing.
Top tips
Here are tips Dr Clark suggests to help you balance work, family time, personal commitments and everything in between:
- Taking time out – Making time for yourself during the day to unwind and relax by prioritising self-care, hobbies, exercising, and spending quality time with loved ones
- Practicing breathing exercises – Try mindfulness exercises, such as regulating your breathing, which can help you reduce stress
- Establish boundaries – Setting and maintaining boundaries allows us to allocate time and energy to activities that nourish our mental health. By identifying our limits, we can reduce the likelihood of being stretched too thin and control our time, promoting a more balanced and calm mental state
- Maintaining a routine – Incorporate regular positive activities into your daily routine, like breaks from screens for some fresh air or reading a book during breaks. Finding a routine that suits you will allow you to work while enjoying holiday time with your family
- Physical activity – Physical activity is not only good for your body and your mind. Being active releases chemicals in our brains that make us feel good, boost self-esteem and help us stay focused. Plus, it’s something we can do with family or friends
- Sleep – Good quality sleep can be overlooked, yet its link to our mental health is powerful. Try to set an earlier bedtime and wind down by stretching, taking a warm bath, and dimming the lights. These help us fall asleep faster and sleep better. Reducing caffeine and alcohol intake is also conducive to better sleep.
Dealing with stress
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to balancing work and personal commitments, and it’s normal to experience a level of stress in our day-to-day lives.
It’s important to recognise when you or others are feeling stressed, for example, by noticing changes in how you act or communicate, or by not performing as usual. When this happens, taking a short break to regain your composure is a good idea.
Creating a supportive work environment and making self-care a priority can help everyone in the team handle this busy period more effectively. Scheduling regular check-ins, setting realistic goals and being flexible are examples of ways to support the team.
Striking the balance
Lauren Hyam, practice manager at Bupa Dental Care, shares her experience of balancing her career and family life.
At 37, Lauren manages her role alongside taking care of her three children: Bella (14), Teddy (5), and Alby (18 months) – plus a dog!
Lauren returned from maternity leave in September 2023 and continued to advance her career with the support of Bupa by starting a CIPD Level 5 qualification, allowing her to pursue her passion in HR. She says: ‘This just goes to show you can still progress your career alongside being a mum.’
In addition, Lauren serves as a wellbeing champion at Bupa, encouraging colleagues to prioritise their personal energy and self-care. She also teaches Personal Energy for individuals on a one-to-one basis, which is about understanding what you need and making time for it.
Lauren knows life can be busy, so she values a supportive workplace and environment that helps people thrive professionally and personally.
She says: ‘With three children and a job, it can get pretty chaotic, especially during the summer holidays! At 6am I’m trying to get everyone up and ready, preparing breakfast and making sure they’re set for the day.
‘I arrive at the office at 8am, make myself a cup of tea and log on. My day finishes at 4.30pm and then I go do collections.
‘Then there are evening activities with the kids too. Having flexibility at work helps me get the best of both worlds.’
Workplace flexibility
But it doesn’t just end with her immediate family – Lauren also has caring responsibilities within her extended family. ‘During my maternity leave, I became my grandma’s full-time carer as her health deteriorated.
‘Bupa Dental Care has been amazing at accommodating my needs to support my family, making it possible to manage my responsibilities.’
When things get busy, it’s easy to drop the things that matter most. Lauren emphasises the importance of striking the balance and making time for the moments that matter most.
‘I missed out on time with the children in previous jobs. There’s only one sports day a year and one festive play – they don’t happen often and you can’t get them back!
‘Working a Bupa Dental Care allows me the flexibility to be present with my family in the moments that matter.’
Family-friendly work culture
John Hannah, a dentist at Bupa Dental Care Morecambe, who is due to go on his second paternity leave, shares his experience.
‘Having children made me very aware of how valuable my time is and where I wanted to place my efforts to balance family and career.
‘We’re expecting another child, and I’m due to take paternity leave to support my partner at home. It’s really precious time together, and I see it as an extremely positive benefit and investment from Bupa.
‘It’s motivating to be part of a family-friendly work culture that acknowledges the balance of work and dedicating time to be a parent.’
Prioritising your wellbeing is essential to leading a fulfilling and balanced life. At Bupa Dental Care, supporting people to have happy, healthy, long-lasting careers with us is a priority.
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This article is sponsored by Bupa Dental Care.
