Working in healthcare is equally rewarding and stressful. After all, healthcare workers have many responsibilities and play a big role in the health of those around them. That responsibility, paired with the long hours, can leave many healthcare workers feeling stressed.
Managing stress while caring for others is equally challenging for rookies and veterans alike. That’s especially true when balancing your work life, social life, and family life. Luckily, this doesn’t mean that you’re doomed to an eternally stressful career.
Overcoming stress is an unspoken part of the job, and it’s something all healthcare professionals must figure out. Follow along as we highlight some essential stress management tips for thriving in demanding health careers.
Sadly, you can’t flip a switch and get rid of your stress and anxiety. The key to stress management is setting yourself up for success before you even get to work. Of course, working in healthcare involves many sudden stressors appearing, so coping with them in healthy ways is also essential. You can deal with work-related stress relatively easily if you keep a few things in mind, including:
Working in healthcare can be stressful, and it often involves dealing with harsh realities. Naturally, this can affect your mood, worsen your anxiety, and make you feel depressed in extreme cases. Taking this negativity home with you can make home life just as stressful as work.
You must learn to separate work life from home life, so you don’t dwell in the same mindset you have at work. One great way to do this is to enjoy some quiet time right when you get home. For example, you could either meditate or sit still and push any work-related thoughts out of your mind.
Of course, some people don’t have this luxury, as they must take care of their children after work. In that case, you can at least prioritize positive thoughts during your commute and focus on your kids when you get home. It takes some time, but focusing on the present moment while not at work can help you manage work-related stress.
As a healthcare worker, you probably understand the importance of a healthy circadian rhythm. You can easily disrupt your circadian rhythm if you don’t stick to a healthy sleep schedule. Healthcare workers typically work long hours, so getting enough sleep to get through the day is essential.
Sleep deprivation can worsen anxiety, cause irritability, and even negatively impact your recall. You owe it to yourself, your coworkers, and your patients to get enough sleep throughout the work week. Getting enough sleep is arguably the most important aspect of self-care.
It’s hard to perform well at work when you’re sleep-deprived, especially if it contributes to anxiety and depression. Ideally, you should get at least 7 hours of sleep per night to set yourself up for success. It may take some trial and error, but correcting your sleep schedule is worth the effort.
The road to a healthcare career can be stressful, but it can adequately prepare you for an often-stressful career. There’s a good chance that you celebrated the milestones along the way, like graduating and getting licensed. However, some healthcare workers stop celebrating small milestones upon entering the workforce.
Celebrating each achievement throughout the day, week, or month can work wonders to help you manage stress. Recognizing your achievements can make your work feel more meaningful and help you handle stressful moments. The rest of your workday or week won’t feel so insurmountable if you give yourself a pat on the back occasionally.
Whether you’re a nurse or you work in health information management, you probably collaborate with others. In many ways, your coworkers can likely relate to the stress you feel throughout the workday. Of course, everyone has different struggles, but you’re never alone.
It helps to talk to your coworkers and vent about some of the stress you carry. Even just letting it off your chest can alleviate some of your stress. Dealing with stress is much easier if someone comforts you, offers their perspective, or listens.
In some cases, you can even confide in your department heads and superiors. For example, you may need to discuss the schedule with your department head and how it impacts your mental health. It’s always worth advocating for yourself and expressing your feelings.
Physical health and mental health go hand in hand, no matter what your job is. However, prioritizing all aspects of health is essential for healthcare workers. You must be fit to handle the pressure and stress of the job while also setting a good example.
A healthy diet and proper water intake are essential for getting through the workday. Dealing with a magnesium or vitamin B deficiency can leave you sluggish and unmotivated. Similarly, dehydration can cause headaches and make your body feel stiff.
The nutrients you consume can affect your focus and mental health state, which can help you manage stress. It’s also important to be careful about alcohol consumption, especially on work nights. Even just a few drinks can leave you feeling sluggish, tired, and irritable the next day in some cases.
As a healthcare worker, you most likely understand how beneficial counseling can be. The healthcare world features many great psychology careers, and that’s because mental health is so complex. Whether you want to see a therapist or a psychiatric nurse practitioner, it’s worth taking the step.
That doesn’t mean that something is wrong with you; it just means that you could use an outside, unbiased perspective. Talking to someone who doesn’t directly know you or have any preconceived notions is invaluable. However, you and the mental health professional in question probably share one thing in common: a passion for helping others.
Sure, you may work in different fields, but the counselor may at least understand the nuances of working a job based around compassion. They can help you identify stressors and even help you establish boundaries and coping mechanisms. It’s worth getting into counseling, even if it’s only for a session or two.
Performing well at work is difficult when you’re bogged down by stress and anxiety. Work-related stress can negatively impact your performance and even affect your home life. Prioritizing a healthy diet and sleep schedule can get you on the right track.
You’ll encounter many stressors during your healthcare career, and talking to someone about them is essential. That includes your coworkers, superiors, and even counselors. Setting boundaries and celebrating personal victories can help you overcome work stress. Doing so can help you perform better and maximize your healthcare career potential.
