University of Virginia Health System

Word of Mouth Introduction to Balance
School of Medicine Balance Resources
Faculty Employee Assistance Program 
UVA Ergonomic Resources & Assessment 
Other UVa Work-Life Balance Resources
Web Resources
Print Resources

Trends through the latter half of the twentieth century and continuing today show professionals working more hours per week than ever before. Likewise, in the personal sphere people are spending more hours per day attending to household duties and the needs of their families, friends, and communities. These trends hold true regardless of gender. So, more time at work, more time spent providing care for aging parents or attending children's soccer games or cleaning the house . . . and where have all of the extra hours come from in this dedication to responsibility both personal and professional? They have come at the expense of the hours in the day reserved for the self: the time allocated for reflection, inner development, exercise, sleep, attention to diet, etc.

      
Work-life Balance is the term designating an effort to bring all of our enterprises more in line: to prioritize personal and professional duties (external responsibilities) alongside of the important choices each of us make for ourself (internal responsibilities). Each individual's priority list will be as unique as a fingerprint. And the journey to understand a healthy balance of commitment to life, work, and self often requires time, guidance, reflection, experimentation, and flexibility for adjusting to the ebb and flow of external and internal events. The strategies for addressing balance range from group seminars to individual coaching or mentorship; and from research in books to resources on the web; or just through interpersonal discussions dealing with it "word of mouth." On this page are links to balance resources and workshops around grounds: within the School of Medicine, through the Faculty Employee Assistance Program, with other UVA offices and programs, and lists of resources both on-line and in print.

A new way to frame the issue: Link here to read article "The Inside Out Solution" by Douglas LaBier on balancing the inner and outer domains of our lives, rather than framing it as work life in opposition to personal life.
 

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UVA Ergonomic Taskforce: Facilitated by the UVA Office of Environmental Health & Safety, the Taskforce maintains a web site with many resources for and information about defining and evaluating ergonomic risks, creating ergonomically appropriate workstations and preventing work-related musculoskeletal disorders Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTD's). Services available through the Taskforce include: coordinating individual worksite analysis, assessing needs through surveys and requests, and providing group education/workshops.

Contact a member of the Taskforce through the web site in order to schedule an Ergonomic Assessment of your work area, or for further information.

UVA Mindfulness Center: The University of Virginia's Mindfulness Center promotes the incorporation of mindfulness into the medical community, as well as into the lives of individuals throughout the region by offering classes, training, and instruction in mindfulness to University of Virginia health care professionals and to the regional community served by the Medical Center. Offerings include Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR; an 8-week course), Interpersonal Mindfulness Training, Individual Consultations for Stress-Related Symptoms, T'ai Chi, Qi Gong, and Yoga. Full program information is available through the web site. For registration, call Allie Rudolph at the Department of Family Medicine, (434) 924-1622 or 924-1190, or utilize the on-line registration.

UVA Women's Center: The Women's Center provides a variety of service and support programs for women on faculty, staff, enrolled as students, or from the community. Major services include Personal and Career Counseling, provided free of charge for individuals dealing with life and career transitions, relationship issues, sexuality, eating and body image concerns, and other issues. The Center also offers support groups and traveling workshops that address relationship issues, sexuality, alcoholism, caregiving for elders, self-esteem, and many other topics. The Sexual and Domestic Violence Services (SDVS) Office offers support for both women and men who have been sexually assaulted or have experienced dating/domestic violence. The Free Legal Clinic provides professional legal advice to community members and University employees. Also, the Jill T. Rinehart Library houses a rich collection of media devoted to women's history, literature and art as well as legal, health, and political issues; the collection is listed on-line and items may be checked out from the Women's Center. More information on the library is given below under the Print Resources heading.

Leadership Development Center: The LDC is a small training and consulting enterprise accountable to the UVA Vice President for Management and Budget, which provides a series of integrated programs and services designed to prepare, equip, and support people to succeed in fulfilling their leadership roles. Clients include administrators, managers, supervisors, and key administrative assistants throughout the University community. The LDC also provides services on a very limited basis to non-university clients. Offerings include Leadership Workshops and Conferences, Leadership Support Services, and on-line listings of Resources for Leaders.

Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement: The VPFA Office is committed to institutional excellence through a synergy of organizational goals and the personal and professional advancement of a diverse faculty. In addition to work in support of recruitment and retention, promotion and tenure, faculty policy, and search committee training, the VPFA Office also offers support services and programs for faculty advancement. Follow the link to the Events page to read about workshops, lectures, and panels offered through the academic year. The Professors as Writers program supports professional and academic writing of faculty, administered through the Teaching Resource Center.The Faculty Resources area of the VPFA web site offers links to many resources around grounds and throughout the community. Finally, the VPFA offers support of faculty candidates seeking dual career (spousal or partner) placement; contact (434) 924-6865 for further information.

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The College and University Work/Family Association (CUWFA): CUWFA provides leadership in facilitating the integration of work and study with family/personal life at institutions of higher learning. CUWFA provides a wealth of information and support services for the development of work/life programs, policies and research in higher education.

Work & Family Connection: An on-line resource for information, news, and training related to work-life issues, including a Work-Life Clearinghouse subscription service which provides access to journals, emails, updates, and databases dedicated to the subject. The web site also contains information about Work & Family Connection’s research and consulting services, profiles of family-friendly companies, and access to Work and Family Newsbrief, a monthly digest of current work-life news.

Families and Work Institute: FWI is a nonprofit center for research that provides data to inform decision-making on the changing workforce, changing family and changing community. They are committed to finding research-based strategies that foster mutually supportive connections among workplaces, families, and communities. The web site offers information, reports, and links on topic areas such as Workplace Flexibility, Childcare & Early Childhood Education, and Diversity, Generation, and Gender in the Workplace.

Alliance for Work-Life Progress: AWLP is a membership organization committed to the development and advancement of the field of work-life effectiveness. AWLP addresses work-life issues through publications, forums and professional development strategies. AWLP strives both to improve the professionalism of those working in the work-life arena, and to influence better integration of work and family life. The web site provides access to a bookstore, a library, a very useful links section, educational and training workshop and conference opportunities, and daily headlines on the home page.

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Word of Mouth tip on print resources: Search methods should include the UVA Library system, Google, Amazon, and all of the usual suspects. In addition to your standard search repertoire, read here about several special collection libraries which exist around grounds to serve the university community. Each of these collections addresses special interest areas, and may be visited both on-line and in person. You may contact each of the centers below for further information or walking directions. Faculty and staff may check out materials from each of the libraries listed here.

The Library of the Teaching Resource Center: A growing library of approximately 3,000 teaching and learning materials, the collection includes books, journals, articles, and videos. All materials can be viewed at the TRC, and most can be checked out. The web site includes search functions for the catalog by author, title, or topic. Faculty may visit the library of the TRC at Hotel D, 24 East Range. Call (434) 982-2815 for more information. 

The Jill Rinehart Library of the Women's Center: The library has focused its holdings on four core areas of interest: Eating Disorders & Body Image, Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault, Women's Health Concerns, and Lifespan Issues. Lifespan Issues include identity (gender, culture, ethnicity, self esteem, emotional IQ), adolescence and puberty, establishing relationships (friendships, dating, sex and intimacy, and community involvement), higher education and career development, family issues (marriage, reproduction, working parents, single parents, divorce, childcare, taking care of the older generation), and aging (menopause, loss of loved ones, grief). The library catalog can be searched on-line. All faculty and staff have access to this library, regardless of gender. If you would like more information, call (434) 982-2251 or 982-2361, or send an email.

The Library of the Center for Humanism in Medicine: With a collection of more than 2,000 books, the library serves as support to the Humanism in Medicine curriculum of UME education. Topics include poetry, fiction, non-fiction, philosophy, psychology, and more, with a particular emphasis on physicians who are writers. All books are available for faculty or staff to check out, although an on-line catalog is not available at this time. The CHM Library is located on the Fifth Floor of the Barringer Wing, and further information is available by calling (434) 924-2094.

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