‘Embrace the chaos’: Advice on integrating work, life

BOSTON — In this exclusive video from The Liver Meeting 2019, Monica Tincopa, MD, MSc, a junior faculty member in the department of transplant hepatology at the University of Michigan, highlights a talk she gave during a career development workshop that focused on making time for both personal and professional lives.

“What I really tried to focus on is there’s always a lot of discussion about ‘work-life balance’ and I think for, particularly, a lot of young investigators it could be really hard to achieve that,” Tincopa told Healio Gastroenterology and Liver Disease.

She noted that one of the issues surrounding the term “work-life balance” is that it can be misleading and, therefore, stressful.

“We focused a lot more on work-life integration and for me and my career, and a lot of my colleagues, I think what has been very helpful is to try and really focus on ... what brings you joy both professionally and personally,” she said.

Tincopa continued by highlighting the importance of balancing both professional and personal responsibilities that are meaningful, but also flexible.

“What I said [to the audience] is to ‘embrace the organized chaos’ so, to be kind to yourself and to know that from day-to-day how you spend your time will likely change and that’s OK, so long as at the end of the day, you’re doing what’s important to you,” she said. – by Ryan McDonald

Reference: Tincopa MA. How I Make Time for Myself and My Work. Presented at: The Liver Meeting; Nov. 7-12, 2019; Boston.

Disclosure: Tincopa reports no relevant financial disclosures.