Reigniting the Flame
I've been working for ADVANCE for almost 3 years now, and I've loved getting to know you laboratorians. Learning about what you do every day to help patients has given me such an appreciation for you hard working clinical laboratory scientists. You are dedicated professionals who truly have the patient's best interests at heart. I've interviewed countless lab professionals over the past 3 years, and I can't tell you how many have told me they enjoy what they do because they get to impact the lives of patients. I think that's amazing and something to be proud of!
However, as with any profession, I've noticed some negativity in the lab. Many laboratorians want more money and respect -- and rightfully so. However, the negativity can't permeate and taint the reason you enjoy your job and got into it in the first place. If that happens to you, you are doing yourself -- and the patients you work hard for -- a major disservice.
I came across author Allyson Lewis's 7 1/2 tips for living a life you love, and I wanted to pass them on to our ADVANCE readers. Her tips include "make a decision to embrace change" and "reclaim your day."
One that struck me was "do what you like and delegate what you don't." I realize this may not be possible for all lab professionals. But let's say you're a generalist who's been working a lot in blood bank, but what you really love is microbiology. Is there any way you could talk to your manager about switching so you can make your job more enjoyable and fulfilling?
Lewis's tip # 7 1/2 encourages you to "appreciate what you've got" by writing down a list of the top 10 things you love about your job. I encourage you to do so -- it may help you put your job and career in perspective. If you can't come up with 10 things, it may be time to try Lewis's tips to see how you can learn to love your job again.
When couples go through a slump, they often try to find ways to "reignite the flame" in their relationship. Maybe it's time to reignite the flame you have for your job!
What tips do you have when it comes to keeping your love for the lab alive?