Tag Archives: balance

Coping, Health, Healthcare, Wellness

Prioritizing Self-Care: Tips for Healthcare Workers to Avoid Burnout

Smiling nurse in scrubs
Photo from Freepik

With the fast-paced and demanding work of healthcare, self-care needs to be a priority. The risk of burnout looms large in the world of healthcare. Burnout can affect both personal well-being and work effectiveness. Healthcare professionals face unique challenges, from grueling schedules to emotionally taxing situations. Self-care is not just beneficial but is essential. Below are some tips to safeguard mental health and to sustain passion for your work.

Consume Foods High in Nutrients

There is a strong connection between a balanced diet and mental health. By incorporating nutrient-rich foods, such as those high in omega-3 fatty acids, into your meals, you can boost brain function and energy levels. This supports your mental well-being and provides the stamina you need to handle the demands of your work. Having a nutritional plan, guided by a comprehensive health assessment can help you receive the necessary vitamins and minerals, for sustainable work-life balance.

Prioritize Good Sleep

Quality sleep is essential for both mental and physical health. Adequate rest enhances brain function and strengthens your immune system. For those working in high-pressure jobs, sleep deprivation can increase the risk of anxiety and depression. Having a consistent sleep routine can decrease these risks, promoting a healthier mood and better overall well-being. Making sleep a priority can help you be more resilient against stress and enhance patient care.

Find a Less Stressful Career Path

Finding a less stressful job within healthcare can be an important step in preserving your mental health. First, create a stellar and professional-looking resume that showcases your skills and achievements. Use an online resume builder to put your best foot forward and simplify the process. These tools offer a variety of professionally designed templates that you can customize with your own content, photos, colors, and images, ensuring your resume stands out in a competitive job market.

Request a Flexible Schedule

Having flexible scheduling can significantly reduce stress and prevent burnout among healthcare workers. By allowing you to tailor your shifts to align with personal responsibilities (such as childcare or education), you can achieve a better work-life balance. Employees with more control over their schedules tend to be more productive and engaged. Modern scheduling tools are often powered by AI. They, offer efficient solutions that adapt to the dynamic needs of healthcare workers, to benefit both individuals and the workplace.

Look for Humor in Your Work

Humor can help you cope with the challenges of healthcare. Incorporate humor into daily interactions to help decrease stress and reduce the risk of emotional exhaustion. Laughter with colleagues and patients can act as a buffer against the emotional toll of dealing with pain and loss. However, it’s important to use humor sensitively. It may not resonate with everyone. But humor can enhance communication and teamwork in a supportive work environment.

Seek Peer Support

Hold peer support meetings regularly. They are crucial for healthcare professionals to share experiences and challenges in a safe environment. These gatherings provide a confidential space where you can express feelings and receive empathy from others. By fostering a sense of community, these meetings help decrease loneliness and anxiety. When people realize others have faced similar struggles, they feel more at ease. And they are more likely to continue sharing if it is a caring workplace culture.

Try Gratitude Journaling

Gratitude journaling can be a powerful tool for healthcare workers to reduce burnout and create a more positive outlook. By taking a few minutes each day to reflect on and write down moments of gratitude, you can shift your focus from stressors to the rewarding aspects of your work and life. Focusing on gratitude helps build emotional resilience, enhance mental well-being, and provide a sense of purpose. Regular gratitude journaling also encourages mindfulness and can act as a reminder of the great impact healthcare workers have on their patients’ lives.

Use these tips to transform your healthcare experience and to foster a healthier and more sustainable career. When you prioritize self-care and community support, you can maintain your passion and dedication, which can enhance the quality of care you provide.

Explore a wealth of health education resources at Health Vista and empower yourself and your community with knowledge for a healthier future.

Blog # 32 added 12-15-24.  Written by Guest Contributor Gwen Payne of invisiblemoms.com.

Health, Recovery

Wave Goodbye to Worry: Practical Tips for Peace

Beautiful woman smiling and lounging
Photo from Freepik https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/tender-beautiful-african-woman-sleepwear-smiling-sitting-chair-resting-relaxing-home_8813151

Stress is an inevitable part of life, shaping our experiences and reactions to various situations. Understanding how to manage stress effectively is essential for maintaining mental health and overall well-being. You can take practical steps toward less worry and more peace. At healthvista.net, you may find resources to help you identify the sources of your stress and adopt strategies to manage it effectively, ensuring you can navigate life’s challenges with resilience.

Unveiling the Sources of Stress

To manage stress effectively, you must first identify its roots. Work pressures, financial worries, relationship dynamics, and health concerns are everyday stressors. Work often seems to demand more than it rewards us, while economic issues may stem from unexpected expenses or limited income. Relationship stress might arise from misunderstandings or differing expectations among partners, family, or friends, while chronic health problems can create a constant source of anxiety. Recognizing these sources is the first step toward managing your stress.

Transforming Stress at Work

Work-related stress is a prevalent challenge that can significantly sap your energy and deteriorate your mental health. If your current role no longer brings satisfaction or the stress has become overwhelming, it might be time to think about changing careers. Transitioning into a field that better matches your interests can breathe new life into your professional endeavors. Pursuing an online doctoral program in education would enable you to complete your EdD degree while still managing your existing job and family responsibilities. A program such as this provides a feasible route to a career that offers new challenges and makes a substantial impact in the education sector.

Simplify and Prioritize Your Tasks

One of the most effective ways to reduce stress is by breaking down your tasks into manageable steps. Begin by prioritizing tasks based on urgency and importance. This method helps you focus on what needs to be done without becoming overwhelmed. By simplifying tasks, you allow yourself to approach each one with a clearer mind and a more focused intention, reducing the chaotic feeling of having too much on your plate.

Cultivate Your Support Network

Surrounding yourself with supportive relationships can be a significant stress reliever. Whether it’s friends, family, or support groups, having people to talk to and share your burdens with can lighten your emotional load. This network provides an outlet for your frustrations and different perspectives that might help you see solutions you hadn’t considered. Expressing your feelings and thoughts is therapeutic and can be incredibly relieving.

Set Boundaries to Protect Your Time

Learning to say no is an essential skill in managing stress. Overcommitting yourself can lead to a buildup of tension and, eventually, burnout. By setting clear boundaries, you teach others about your limits and protect your time and energy. This practice helps ensure you are not taking on more than you can handle, allowing you to give your best to each task without the pressure of an unmanageable schedule.

Engage in Enjoyable Activities

Investing time in hobbies and activities you love can significantly reduce stress. Whether reading, gardening, painting, or any other activity, doing what you enjoy can divert your mind from stressors and bring joy and satisfaction. These activities provide a break from routine and allow you to recharge, which is crucial for long-term stress management.

Focus on What You Can Control

A key aspect of stress reduction is focusing on what you can control and releasing things beyond your influence. Worrying about uncontrollable factors drains energy and increases anxiety. Concentrating on your actions and responses can empower you and reduce feelings of helplessness, minimizing stress.

By understanding the sources of your stress and implementing these strategies, you can create a more balanced and fulfilling life. Managing stress is not about eliminating it but learning to navigate it effectively. You can maintain your mental well-being and enjoy a richer, more rewarding life through proactive steps and a supportive environment. Take some practical steps toward less worry and more peace. Remember, every step you take in addressing your stressors is a move towards a healthier, happier you.

Blog #30 added July 30, 2024 by Guest Contributer Gwen Payne of invisiblemoms.com

Health, Recovery

Recover and Thrive after Major Life Challenges

Man and woman relaxing

Strive to recover after addiction or other life challenges

Those who commit to to it can recover from addiction or other life challenges. They have a priceless opportunity to thrive and create a better life. To optimize your life, you may need healthy lifestyle choices, a supportive social life, and the drive to take charge of your life.

Remember that in 2020, there were many more changes and challenges than usual for individuals, families, and communities.  The year 2021 continues to be difficult for people with addiction or with mental illness, but recovery is possible.  Be kind to yourself as you realize all you have been through and survived. Both good and bad life changes can sharply raise your level of stress.

Get enough exercise and rest

Whole-body wellness means balancing the right amount of activity and rest.  We need both physical and mental strength to fight for recovery every day and to replace bad habits with good ones. Exercise has proven to be an effective recovery tool because “working out” affects the brain in a positive way.

If you want to add exercise to your life during recovery, think small at first. The goal is to identify and start an activity that is sustainable for the long haul, so you can stay self-motivated. Hitting the gym hard for 30 days until you burn out is not especially helpful. But, walking a little bit every day is an activity that can last a lifetime. Other low-impact exercises could include lightweight muscle workouts using small dumbbells, kettlebells, or resistance bands. If you don’t have weights, you could put water into milk jugs until they are the weight you want to use. Muscle exercises and the active movements are important to jumpstart metabolism and help to strengthen your core muscles.

Improve your nutrition

Besides adding physical activity, improving your diet also supports your overall well-being. Eating healthy foods and getting balanced nutrition are key. Destructive habits like substance abuse can take over your life if it seems like getting high or drunk becomes more important than eating. Recovery is an opportunity to start over and refuel the body with much-needed nutrients.

Switching quickly from an extremely poor diet to a healthy one can be difficult because your habits can be powerful. Consider small, impactful changes to your eating. Some healthy changes can include:

  • Eating regular meals on a schedule.
  • Cut down on caffeine, if possible. Drink plenty of water.
  • Eat foods that are lower in fat, higher in protein and fiber
  • Add vegetables to your plate. (Try covering half the plate in garden colors, then dividing the remaining half into a quarter of protein and a quarter of whole grains.)
  • Experiment with different flavors to add excitement to your meals. People often reach for junk food because it tastes good, but healthy food done right can taste even better.
  • Plan meals in advance and have a big cooking session. If you can spend a few hours in the kitchen on a Sunday, you can make your lunches and dinners for the entire week and avoid the temptation to grab a quick unhealthy bite during the week.

Find Positive and Supportive People

Healthy living includes spending positive social time with people and having fun. For instance, healthy cooking “parties” can be a way to meet new people or connect with old friends. The key to your social life— and the struggle — is to disconnect from negative influences that may trigger a relapse. To have a better “road to recovery”, you may need to find new friends. If you are an alcoholic, instead of going to bars, “hang out” at coffee shops or other places where they don’t serve alcohol.

Social support is crucial to recovery because you may not be able to manage triggers on your own. Supportive friends and family can help you stay on track and to keep busy enough so there is no room in your life for bad habits.

Take Control of Your Life

Taking your life “by the reins” is like steering yourself away from stress and addiction toward recovery. Problem-solving will be needed after you figure out what is bothering you the most. Perhaps your financial situation is the current source of your stress. Or, maybe you’re not totally satisfied at your job, but don’t feel financially comfortable enough to leave. Maybe you’ve recently lost your job and don’t know what your next move should be. Think about what you would most like to do in life, and then pursue it. This life change could be an opportunity to do something you love. You may want to start a “side hustle” or launch your own business.

If you are considering forming a business, a good way to protect your personal assets and qualify for more tax breaks is  LLC filing. Like most states, MN allows a company to be structured online with affordable services. First, you would need to spend some time brainstorming to choose a unique business name, and then start making a business plan.

Learn How to Cope

It could be scary to jump into starting a new business, a new job, or new relationships after a major life challenge. Your confidence is usually low, and your future may look uncertain. But, when you choose something you really want to do, it will help motivate you toward a more successful and stable future.  Make sure you talk about your plans with your family and friends, they can advise you and support you as problems come up.

In recovery, your emotions may change quickly, like an emotional “roller coaster”. It helps to have a coping plan to help you and your family deal with negative thoughts or behaviors.

Health Vista, Inc. has a Coping and Relaxation workbook you can download and print. You can also find many local and online addiction resources, and recovery resources to use.

Through healthy living, people in recovery can thrive. Rather than following a downward spiral, start making improvements in exercise, diet, positive social support. Follow your passion to help propel you to a better life as you recover from addiction or other life challenges. .

Finding success involves planning and a high level of self-knowledge, but it is easier than you might think. Get active and healthier. Laugh with good friends. Manage your life and learn to cope with the stress that comes with big and small life changes.

Blog # 24  Added 2-11-21 written by guest contributor Dylan Wallace.  Edited by Mary Knutson, Health Vista, Inc.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

 

 

 

Health

Balancing Fitness and Self-Care

Fitness training. Muscular man holding weights in one armed plank positionpushing up

Are you balancing fitness with self-care?

Is your New Year’s resolution still going strong? Are you still spending every spare moment improving your health and fitness? If so, congratulations to you. It’s hard to keep up the progress toward self-improvement long-term. For many of us, there comes a point where we push a little too hard and become burnt out.  Even if you feel like you could keep at this rate for weeks to come, your progress may stall. If you don’t have enough self-care, you will more likely decide you want to give up.

Developing a fitness routine has become a cornerstone in the lives of many. For some, exercise has been a saving grace—a way of coping for those suffering from depression, anxiety or addiction. It can help refocus their lives as they strive for recovery. But as with anything in life, the benefit is limited if we start to overdo it.

How We Burn Out on Fitness

In our efforts to become better people, we may push our minds and bodies to their limits. Self-improvement requires insight into ourselves to see if there is something wrong. Maybe it’s that we are overweight, can’t run as far as we’d like, or that we rely too heavily on an addictive substance that’s ruining our lives. When we see room for improvement, we set goals and start an action plan of what we think would help us meet those goals. We may spend more time at the gym, improve our diets, or change our lifestyles, all in the name of personal fitness.

Over time, as we see improvements, it fuels us to push a little harder. We push and push until one day we notice that for some unknown reason the scale begins to tick in the wrong direction, or something happens to cause discomfort. Even something small that could be gut-wrenching and upsetting. Suddenly, we may realize how much time and energy we’ve spent focused on losing weight or gaining muscle mass. That tired feeling we’ve been pushing off is back and we decide to maybe skip the gym today. This is what burning out can feel like. It can mark the end of our progress for better fitness and self-improvement.

Importance of Balancing Fitness with Self-Care

So how do we avoid burn out and sustain a fitness routine for the rest of our lives? The answer lies ultimately in our ability to love ourselves and care for our needs. Self-care is about taking a moment to pause. Start by appreciating who we are and what we’ve acheived. Instead of always striving for self-improvement and always pushing to be better, we can decide to reward ourselves for simply being who we are. Personal acts of self-care may include taking a day to get a massage, lounge in the spa, sleep in on a weekend, or meditate. If you enjoy meditating, consider finding a quiet space in your home where you can create your own meditation room. These acts of treating ourselves reward us with rest and relaxation can be just as motivating as “sticking your nose to the grindstone” with your fitness routine.

Make Time for Fitness and Self-care

The key to finding the right balance between your fitness routine and self-care activities is by setting aside time for both. Perhaps you’ve already discovered your physical and mental limitations when you pushed yourself to be fit. Decide to never push yourself to do more than you can handle. Whenever you feel strained or discouraged, allow yourself a day or even a weekend to indulge in self-care.

By scheduling some self-care days throughout your calendar, you give yourself small pauses in your procession of self-improvement to reflect and catch your breath. Knowing that you have an upcoming day for self-care will help motivate you to keep pushing yourself in your fitness routine and prevent you from burning out along the way.

Photo Credit: Pixabay.com

Posted 10-5-18 Blog article by Guest Contributer Shiela Olson.

Shiela has been a personal trainer for five years. She believes the best way to achieve physical fitness and good health is to set and tackle small goals. She encourages her clients to stay positive and incorporates mindfulness and practices for reducing negative talk into her sessions.  FitSheila.com was created to spread the word about her fitness philosophy.

Updated for readability 5-25-20 by Mary Knutson

Additional link suggestion:  https://faithcenteredfitness.com/