For most healthcare professionals, the act of providing care and services to others is fulfilling and rewarding. The hard work, long hours, physical and emotional wear-and-tear and stress involved can take their toll over time. What makes healthcare professionals great is their compassion to help others while at times sacrificing their own health and well-being.
What Is Self-Care?
The topic of self-care for health care workers has received more attention lately, especially with the negative effects of the pandemic. Despite a growing awareness that these professionals need to focus more on themselves, most barely have time to put in their shift and fulfill obligations outside the workplace.
Opposite of Self-Care – Burnout
Self-care is viewed as a fundamental component of professionalism. It is seen as an ethical obligation to care for one’s self. The opposite of self-care would be poor self-care which could lead to poor clinical judgment, mistakes and impaired decision-making. None of this would benefit individuals requiring care. A lack of self-care could also lead to burnout, a syndrome characterized by emotional exhaustion, decreased sense of personal accomplishment and depersonalization.
Why Is It Important?
Well-being, resilience and being on top of one’s profession are key components of providing high-quality health care and services. While many professionals struggle to find time to engage in self-care, it should become a top priority. Not only should the professional make self-care a matter of urgency, but the organization needs to create more awareness and offer self-care opportunities and education to their staff. In other words, the organizational culture should be one that highly values self-care and employee well-being.
Tips and Techniques
Healthcare professionals can learn to practice a number of methods and techniques to reduce stress and focus on wellness. Some practical, everyday things they can do include:
- Staying connected to healthy, like-minded colleagues, friends and family
- Seek professional support during challenging times
- Set realistic expectations and stick to them
- Try to keep a positive outlook and attitude on work and life
- Get quality sleep and stay on a sleep schedule
- Meet basic health needs like hydration and nutrition
- Take breaks when they are scheduled
- Communicate effectively and compassionately with colleagues and others about work-related issues and personal thoughts and emotions
- Stay updated, informed and educated about changes that are taking place in health care
- Engage in self-monitoring for signs or symptoms of depression, anger, anxiety, hopelessness and helplessness
Schedule Self-Care
Healthcare professionals can also schedule a day and block of time to engage in self-care. If it’s not on the schedule, it may not get done. Taking up new hobbies and activities that can be relaxing, enjoyable and decompressing are great ways to reduce stress and increase wellness.
Self-Talk
It may sound strange, but people who engage in positive self-talk may find that they are working through their issues daily and find relief at the end of the day. Unplugging from technology can also be a good idea.
Routine Exercise
Although healthcare professionals are usually on their feet all day, it can be argued that they are not fully engaging in exercise. This being said, some routine workouts during the week as well as getting outside and moving around can be great ways to reduce stress and take better care of the body physically.
Other tips and techniques include:
- Getting messages
- Listening to music
- Embracing spirituality
- Caring for a pet
Final Thoughts on Self-Care Tips and Techniques
Unfortunately, self-care is one of the first things that many healthcare professionals sacrifice. This is a practice that cannot go on for long, as it may lead to burnout. There are many things that can be done to improve well-being and decrease stress, but self-care must become a top priority. And when it does, healthcare professionals can truly be their best.