It’s the most wonderful time of the year but for those in healthcare, it can also be the most stressful. While others are having family gatherings and wrapping presents, you may be stuck at the hospital or caring for your patients. Your work is important, but so is your well-being. Here are some ways to care for yourself while working in healthcare during the holiday season.
Get your rest
Whether you work day shift or night shift or a mix of both, it is important to get a proper amount of sleep every night/day/afternoon. Whenever you have the time to sleep, make sure you do it. If possible, building a routine of falling asleep and waking up around the same time regularly can be a huge benefit. To help fall asleep easier and faster, put all your screens away for a time before going to bed.
Exercise
Another way to rest properly is to exercise regularly. Exercising early in the day can lead to a more restful sleep. Going to the gym is not necessary to exercise. A light jog or long walk can be just as beneficial as a full gym workout. Daily exercise is a great practice to have as it benefits you, your body, and your mind.
Spread holiday cheer
While you may not get to spend as much time at home during the holidays as you’d like, you can bring the holiday cheer into your workplace. Decorate the space, wear festive clothes, and throw a staff holiday party! These are all great, simple ways to feel the spirit of the season away from home. Putting on holiday music or movies as background noise can liven up the space as well. And you can never go wrong with seasonal snacks and treats to share with your peers. The holiday season is a time of joy and spreading that joy and cheer can make the long hours and work easier to handle.
Avoid burnout
Burnout can affect you physically, emotionally, and behaviorally, so it is important to make sure you are not overworking yourself. Burnout can occur when your workplace is short-staffed, your responsibilities increase, or when you feel no end in sight, among many other things.
The key to avoiding burnout is to self-reflect regularly. Look at your hours, your working conditions, your relationships with your coworkers and boss. If you are unhappy with these, make steps to correct them. Remember to always advocate for yourself, you know what is best for you and if you need to set boundaries for yourself. We recently shared some tips on how to avoid burnout.
At OAAPN, we understand that improved healthcare options for all Ohioans are important to both the profession and the community as a whole. We seek to strengthen both our profession and our individual members by providing resources to our members that they can’t get elsewhere. Of course, if you are not already a member of OAAPN, we invite you to join today.