Written by Mike Scott
Work takes up a significant portion of our lives, and for healthcare professionals who devote much of their time and energy to supporting others, daily tasks can feel particularly stressful. With a responsibility to care, it can be easy to put your own needs to one side. However, this isn’t sustainable in the long term, and may lead to burnout if you don’t take a moment to slow down and prioritize your mental health.
Taking care of your mental wellbeing can be easier said than done. Here’s how you can take positive steps to look after yourself, even when you’re really busy at work.
Stick to a schedule
Having a busy schedule can feel overwhelming, but in fact, simply knowing when you’re required to work and when you’re not can help you to schedule in some much needed time for unwinding.
At the start of each week, take a moment to look ahead to see what you have planned – try to find gaps in your schedule that you can devote to a calm, relaxing activity that’ll help to restore both your mind and body. If you’re working overtime, taking a look at your schedule can help you to recognize where you may need to slow down if you’re working far too many hours.
Remember, overworking yourself will only lead to burnout, causing you to be less productive and efficient, and potentially leading to you needing to take more time off in the future.
Similarly, it’s important to maintain a healthy work-life balance. When you’ve left work for the day, try to leave thoughts of your work responsibilities behind – it’s essential that you’re able to get ample rest so that your mind can reset in time for each new day.
Practice mindfulness
Mindfulness is all about connecting with the present moment. It can help you become more aware of your thought processes and habits. The beauty of mindfulness is that you can practice it easily at any time, and anywhere – just take a couple of moments to close your eyes, breathe deeply, and focus on what’s going on in that moment. Over time, this will help you to become more in touch with your feelings, and less reactive to stress as a result.
Mindfulness can act as a saving grace when you are limited on time and need to quickly refocus in the face of difficulties or overwhelm. As you devote more time to mindfulness practice, you’ll likely find it easier to enter ‘mindfulness mode’ – stressful feelings of overwhelm will more easily pass you by in a way they once didn’t. Mindfulness is all about recognizing your feelings, observing them, and letting them go.
Take care of your body
The mind and body are intrinsically linked, and by taking care of your physical health, you’ll help your mind to thrive, too. Even a short stroll or other gentle activity can get your body moving and help to improve your mood on a difficult day at work.
But, how do you fit exercise into your routine when you’re particularly busy? Consider setting some time aside on your lunch break to take a walk, or you may be able to walk or cycle to work each morning instead of driving or taking public transport. You can also try online exercise if you’re particularly busy, as a pre-recorded video will allow you to take part in a workout at any time that suits you.
As a healthcare professional, you’ll know just how important it is to stay healthy. As well as making time for exercise, be sure to eat a well-balanced diet, so that your brain has all the nutrients it needs to stay resilient, healthy and happy.
Speak to a mental health professional
Sometimes, speaking to a mental health professional may be necessary if you’re struggling to cope with difficult feelings. It can be a lot to handle mental health struggles by yourself, particularly if you don’t feel you have the time to rest and reflect on how you’re feeling between your work responsibilities.
Counselling can be hugely beneficial for healthcare professionals with heavy workloads. Many employers offer various types of therapies as an employee benefit, so it’s worth looking into your options. There are various types of therapy to consider and talking therapies – such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and psychotherapy – are particularly popular. A qualified professional can help you to find the solution that works best for you.
Speak to your employer
If you’re struggling with your mental health, notifying your employer is essential to receiving the support you need and ensuring your performance at work doesn’t decline. Rather than pushing through each long day and bottling up how you’re feeling, consider asking for help from the people around you. Chances are, they can lighten the load – be sure to let them know how they can best support you.
Your employer may be able to make changes to your schedule, or delegate responsibilities if you’re finding it difficult to stay on top of your workload. They may offer a period of leave to help you rest and reset, or, they could offer flexible working options to help you maintain a better work-life balance if company policy allows it. While it won’t be possible in all circumstances, it’s always worth talking through your options with your employer and making sure they’re aware of your situation, so they can support you in the best way possible.
The importance of prioritizing your mental health
Work is important, but your mental health should always be your top priority. While some amount of stress at work is unavoidable and necessary, there is a line between a normal amount of stress, and that which begins to take a toll on your mental health.
It can be hard to slow down as a busy professional. If you struggle to do so, remember that a healthy mind is key to staying productive and achieving your career goals – so long as you take care of your mental health, you, your employer, and your patients will all benefit.
Author bio: Mike Scott
Mike is a healthcare professional who believes access to mental health support and resources is essential in the workplace. He aims to educate employers and employees on the importance of prioritizing emotional wellbeing for greater work satisfaction.
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