Work-life balance as an MLS!
I didn’t realize how exhausted I was until I finally stopped.
Working in a lab can be stressful; we all need to take good care of ourselves. For most of my career, I didn’t think much about work-life balance. I worked constantly for nearly ten years, and it felt normal. Being busy wasn’t just a phase; it was the baseline. There was always another responsibility, another deadline, another person to accommodate, and another problem to solve. Like many people in healthcare, I told myself I was fine because the work mattered; the patient is important. What I didn’t realize was how quietly that mindset had settled in.
In lab culture, endurance is often treated as a virtue. The individual who consistently picks up extra shifts, stays late, or pushes through exhaustion is often praised—sometimes subtly, sometimes openly. Over time, rest starts to feel optional, even selfish. Time off becomes something you feel you have to "earn," rather than something you need or deserve. This mentality extends into society at large. Movies and shows love to highlight lab workers and scientists burning the midnight oil and skipping meals for lofty ideals.
I didn’t reach a dramatic breaking point. Instead, I just noticed that I hadn’t truly stopped in a VERY long time.
Right now, I’m taking an extended break in Thailand, where I’m writing, resting, and doing something completely unrelated to productivity: training in Muay Thai. The physical intensity is real, but it’s the mental shift that has surprised me. For the first time in years, my mind isn’t constantly racing ahead to the next task. I’m present in a way I didn’t realize I had lost. That feeling of being able to pursue anything freely and achieve all my life’s goals has returned, almost as if I’m 16 again. This contrast makes one thing clear: working nonstop doesn’t just deplete energy, it also limits perspective. When constant output becomes the norm, we often stop questioning whether this pace is sustainable.
The lab will always need dedicated professionals, but that dedication shouldn’t come at the cost of constant self-sacrifice. If we keep pushing back rest "until things calm down," it might be time to consider whether the problem lies with the system rather than the individual. Work-life balance isn't about working less or caring less; it's about ensuring that we don't lose ourselves in our work. The healthcare field, particularly in clinical labs, relies on professionals who can think clearly, identify patterns, and make judgments under pressure. These skills do not thrive in a chronic-exhaustion environment.
Balance should not be something you start to think about after reaching the point of burnout; it should be a protective measure that safeguards your well-being long before that happens.
