Work-life balance part two

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Eli Chevalier
  • Kirtland Public Affairs
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The work Airmen are entrusted to do every day is very important. Being responsible for the protection of the United States and its allies is no small feat. But an Airman without proper work-life balance might not be living out their professional and personal potential to the fullest.

“A lot of times what tends to happen is people focus a lot on work, and their personal life suffers, whether that’s relationships, family or social time,” said Capt. Susanna Castleberry, a 377th Medical Group social worker. “Being in the military creates another unique layer because when we move frequently we lose that social network.” 

In addition to relationships suffering, an improperly balanced life brings about health issues as well. Working too much can cause stress, which can lead to feeling down, ulcers and depression.

“I see a lot of it when people come in and there’s this sense of ‘I’m drowning, I just can’t get ahead,’” said Capt. Diana Zarb, Behavioral Health Optimization Program element chief. “When we have imbalance, that makes us feel like we are not actually able to life a life that is enjoyable, that’s worth living.”

Thankfully, programs and the Airmen of the 377th MDG who run them are here to help. Behavioral Health, the Health Promotions flight, Physical Therapy and Mental Health are all available to Airmen looking to strike the proper balance.

“The balance doesn’t mean that everything is equal,” said Zarb. “It means that I just take a moment and reflect to ask myself if I am at peace with how much time and effort I am putting into everything. If the answer is ‘I feel good,’ then I’m in a good spot. If not, that’s a sign that something is out of whack and needs to be addressed.” 

The benefits of addressing and finding a properly balanced life can improve mood, health, and relationships and strengthen support networks. Overall, an Airman can expect an increased quality of life. 

“Life isn’t always about goal setting and goal achieving in professional life,” said Castleberry. “It’s about other things, it’s about living, and enjoying it. It’s about being able to decompress and do things that bring us joy, that bring us fun.”

Editor’s note: This is the second installment in a series of four features on work-life balance. Further articles will focus on Human Performance and leadership perspectives.