Work-Life Balance
Many patients find the process of fertility treatment to be quite stressful, especially when they combine it with the demands of a career.
Treatment involves numerous medical appointments that cannot be predicted well in advance and that take time away from work. As a result of these competing demands, you may fall into a pattern where you are working and pursuing treatment – but not doing much else.
The other parts of your life that used to bring you meaning and pleasure (things like hobbies, travel, exercise, connecting with friends, etc.) may have gotten sidelined during this stressful time. Ironically, this is just the time when you need those diversions most.
Getting back in touch with your life outside of work and fertility treatment helps to reduce stress, improve your mood, and broaden your perspective. Research shows that patients who are pursuing goals in addition to fertility and career tend to feel better and cope better during the treatment process.
So take a moment to think about what your life included before you started on the fertility journey. Make a commitment to yourself to add back in at least one pleasant activity – something as small as a 10- minute evening walk with your partner or as big as signing up for a new class.
If you’re having trouble remembering what you loved to do or carving out the time for it, Dr. Woodward can help with this process (919-) 572-8853.
