Winter is a season of contrasts. For many, it’s about slowing down, enjoying time with loved ones, and leaning into the festive spirit. But for locum doctors, winter often means something different: increased demand, extra shifts, and navigating the busiest period of the year. Balancing professional commitments with family life and festive plans can feel like walking a tightrope.
The good news? With the right strategies, locum work doesn’t have to mean missing out on what matters most. Here’s how locum doctors can manage winter workloads while still finding space for family, rest and celebration.
The upside of locum work is that many doctors can earn more during this period due to higher demand.
Embrace the Flexibility of Locum Work
One of the biggest advantages of being a locum is choice. Unlike permanent roles with fixed rotas, locums often have more control over their schedules. That flexibility can be a lifeline during the festive season.
If family gatherings or school concerts are non-negotiable, block out those dates early with your agency. Planning ahead ensures you’re available for the shifts you want and free when you need to be. It’s about making locum work serve you, not the other way around.
Manage Expectations with Loved Ones
It’s not always possible to have every holiday or weekend off, especially in healthcare, where demand peaks in winter. Honest conversations with family and friends can help.
Explain your schedule in advance, set realistic expectations, and get creative about how you celebrate. Maybe Christmas dinner becomes Christmas brunch, or New Year’s Eve is marked a day early. Flexibility isn’t just a workplace skill; it’s a family one too.
Protect Your Energy
The colder months bring more than festive lights; they also bring colds, flu and long nights. For locum doctors, this means busier wards, urgent cover requests, and sometimes exhausting shifts. Protecting your physical and mental energy is essential.
- Prioritise rest between shifts, even if it means saying no to an extra social event.
- Keep healthy snacks handy for long hours.
- Layer up. Comfortable winter clothing makes all the difference on early commutes.
- Make time for short resets: a brisk walk, a mindfulness app, or even a quiet coffee.
These small acts of self-care help keep burnout at bay when demand is high.
Budget and Plan Ahead Financially
Winter often brings extra expenses: gifts, travel, festive meals. The upside of locum work is that many doctors can earn more during this period due to higher demand. Planning how to allocate that income makes the season less stressful.
Consider setting aside a “festive fund” from your winter earnings to cover celebrations guilt-free. That way, the busier work schedule not only supports patients but also helps create memorable family moments.
Create Your Own Traditions
If your shifts mean missing out on some festive staples, think about creating new traditions around your schedule.
- Celebrate Christmas on your first day off.
- Host a cosy January gathering when life slows down.
- Find small rituals: lighting a candle before work, listening to festive playlists on the way to a shift, or sharing treats with colleagues on the ward.
These personalised traditions can make the season feel special, even if it doesn’t align with the calendar.
Stay Connected
Festive periods can highlight what you’re missing out on. Technology can help bridge the gap. A quick video call between shifts, sharing photos of the celebrations, or even planning a “virtual toast” with family can make the distance feel smaller.
For locums working away from home, connecting with colleagues can also make a big difference. Many healthcare teams create their own ward celebrations, proving that festive spirit can thrive even in the hospital corridors.
Remember the Bigger Picture
Working through the holidays is never easy, but it’s worth remembering the impact locum doctors make. Winter is when patients and healthcare systems need you most. Your flexibility helps hospitals and clinics continue to function, and your presence offers reassurance to those who may be spending their festive season unwell.
Finding pride in that contribution can make the long hours feel meaningful. At the same time, never lose sight of your own need for balance. Work and family both deserve your time, and with locum flexibility, you can often give both.
Something to Think About
Locum life in winter comes with unique pressures, but also unique opportunities. With careful planning, open communication, and a little creativity, locum doctors can strike a balance between professional responsibility and personal joy.
This festive season, let locum work be a chance to show flexibility not only for your patients but also for yourself. Work, family and celebration can all have their place even if it looks a little different from tradition.
Don’t let winter pressures compromise care. Contact PE Global Healthcare or Locum Express today to secure flexible staffing solutions that protect patients, budgets, and your workforce.
