January 21, 2026

E48 The Struggle with Work-Life Balance and Why Work-Life Integration May be a Better Solution

50 minutes

Host: Christopher L. Camp, M.D., Creator & Guide | Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project

Guest: Andrea A. Tooley, MD, FACS, Associate Professor, Oculofacial Plastic Surgery | Mayo Clinic – Rochester, MN (2020-2025)

Innovative Ophthalmology | Paducah, Kentucky (2026-Present)

“Work Life Balance” is a term we hear almost daily. Although the phrase is intended to help us successfully juggle our many responsibilities, we mostly hear about it in the context of struggle. The constant striving for Work-Life Balance can leave us exhausted and unfulfilled. That begs the question, should we be looking at this in a different way? To help us sort that out, our expert guest is Dr. Andrea Tooley.

The three big questions we are going to answer with Dr. Tooley include:

1. What is work-life integration, and how is it different from work-life balance?

2. Why do we all struggle with this concept of “balance” in our lives?

3. What do we need to do to change our thinking and our actions to create work-life integration that leaves us productive and fulfilled?

How to start a Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project “Pod-Club”:

Step 1: Find 2-30 friends who want to get better

Step 2: Choose your episodes (can be focused on specific themes or random)

Step 3: Listen to/watch the episodes

Step 4: Meet with your group to work through the provided discussion questions for each episode, and feel free to add your own!

Step 5: Celebrate the fact that you are turning passive knowledge into action!

Discussion Questions for this Episode:

The podcast suggests that "work-life balance" often feels like "another pressure" or "another thing we're failing at." Do you agree with this assessment?

Dr. Tooley defines "work-life integration" as a "slight reframe of balance where you're never all or nothing," allowing for more "fluidity." How might this conceptualization differ from your current approach to managing work and personal life?

Dr. Tooley shares her strategy of re-evaluating her daily strategy every six months to adapt to changing life seasons. What benefits or challenges do you foresee in adopting a more flexible, periodic re-evaluation?

The speakers discuss the importance of knowing yourself, your values, and your goals to make intentional choices. What steps can you take to better understand your core drivers and non-negotiables? Perhaps you and your podclub members can support one another in this reflection.

The podcast highlights feelings of "guilt" (and especially "mom guilt”) associated with striving for balance, often stemming from external definitions of success. How do you identify and challenge external pressures or definitions of success that might be contributing to feelings of inadequacy in your own life?

Dr. Tooley gives examples of "segregation" (no work email on phone) and "blending" (kids at work meetings) that work for her. What are some specific areas in your life where you currently segregate work and personal life, and where might you consider blending them more intentionally?

The discussion touches on the idea that "you can do everything, but not all at once." How do you prioritize and make decisions about what to say "yes" or "no" to, especially when faced with opportunities that might not perfectly align with your current goals or capacity?

The speakers emphasize that "everybody's a mess" and "nobody's got it together." Identify two actions that you can take to reduce your self-imposed pressure and foster a more compassionate approach to your own work-life journey and that of others?

Learn more about the Human Optimization Project at: https://ce.mayo.edu/optimize

X: @MayoHumanOpProj

Instagram: @MayoHumanOpProj

YouTube: The Human Optimization Project - YouTube

Email: [email protected]

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By Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development

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