While self-care is essential to all professionals, many healthcare workers often struggle to make time for themselves. Here are six self-care tips to help every healthcare professional efficiently care for their overall well-being.
Schedule self-care
Finding time for self-care is often the biggest challenge for most healthcare professionals. Despite your hectic schedule, make sure to allot a few hours every week to activities that foster wellness and relaxation. Incorporate self-care into your daily schedule and commit to it. Exert the same level of dedication to self-care as you do to your work.
Stay active
Exercising regularly is another basic form of self-care. Whether running around the neighborhood, starting a plant garden, swimming a few laps, or walking your dog, make sure you engage in physical activity for at least 30 minutes daily. Regular exercise improves your physical health, enhances your mood, and gives you more energy to get through your busy day.
Prioritize good nutrition
With your hectic and often stressful schedule, finding time to eat healthy food can be challenging. Good nutrition ensures you have enough energy to fulfill your daily tasks. Since it can be difficult to prepare meals once you get home, consider making them beforehand.
Avoid getting processed or take-out food whenever you’re stressed or too tired to cook. Search for delivery services that offer high-quality and nutritious meals to save you from the unnecessary stress that comes with healthy meal planning.
Sleep well
For most healthcare workers, sleep is often a luxury. No matter how demanding your work hours are, make sure you get proper sleep and quality rest every day. Establish a sleep schedule that complements your work routine and abide by it. Avoid stimulants such as alcohol and coffee, and make it a habit to turn your phone off before going to bed. If you’re having difficulty sleeping, taking a relaxing warm or hot bath before bedtime can help with your body’s temperature regulation process.
Socialize
Due to your erratic work shifts, spending time with loved ones is often impossible. To keep negative and depressing emotions at bay, especially when you feel isolated at work, take time to be with your loved ones. Invite a trusted friend for coffee or video call a close relative during your breaks. Connecting with others can instantly boost your mood and distract you from stressful work concerns.
Explore work alternatives
If your work environment is too stressful or prompting you to rethink your career choices, step back and reassess your current situation. Instead of working for a big company, explore alternatives that can provide you with a healthy and efficient work-life balance.
For instance, if you’re a skilled psychiatrist, consider hiring a third-party company such as Encuadrado to take care of your administrative work so that you can focus on other essential tasks. Outsourcing a portion of your work can help increase your productivity and give you more time to concentrate on yourself.
Self-care doesn’t need to be grand or expensive, as it can be as simple as taking a relaxing bath, practicing yoga, or journaling. Remember to be gentle with yourself, and always prioritize your needs.