Self-care tips for doctors, nurses, and all healthcare professionals. You can use these tips to deal with long shifts, and stressful situations.
As a doctor, nurse, or surgeon you lead a hectic life.
You have to keep up with the long shifts, emotional ups and downs of your work, and daily stress.
But that doesn't mean that you deny your self-care.
Denying self-care leads to an inability to stay alert, focused, and energetic. This inability makes your personal and professional life difficult.
We care about you and your contribution to our well-being.
And for your well-being, here are these 8 self-care tips for doctors, nurses, and surgeons:
Wear Medical Scrubs
Medical scrubs provide several benefits to healthcare professionals, including:
- Infection control: Medical scrubs are designed to be easy to clean and maintain, reducing the risk of cross-contamination and the spread of infections.
- Professional appearance: Wearing standardized medical scrubs creates a professional and uniformed look for healthcare professionals.
- Identification and distinction: Different departments or roles within a healthcare facility often have different-colored or patterned scrubs, making it easier to identify and distinguish between staff members.
- Comfort and mobility: Medical scrubs are designed with comfort and mobility in mind.
- Functionality and practicality: Scrubs often have multiple pockets and storage options, allowing healthcare professionals to carry essential tools, instruments, and personal items conveniently.
- Easy maintenance: Medical scrubs are designed to withstand frequent washing and exposure to various cleaning agents.
- Psychological benefit: Wearing scrubs can have a psychological impact on healthcare professionals, helping them mentally transition into their professional roles.
Also Read: Taking Care of Your Medical Scrubs and Nursing Uniforms
The 2 M’s of Wellbeing for Healthcare Professionals
Following these 2 M’s will help you build the habit of staying mindful of your thoughts.
These two M’s are your go-to tips for self-care at work or at home.
Meditation
Meditation is self-care that doctors need to deal with demanding situations. The plight of their patients or complicated surgeries.
It helps you stay focused on the situation at hand.
Meditation slows your thoughts down, and makes you aware of your surroundings.
Set a 5-minute timer and close your eyes. Try to focus on taking deep breaths without getting lost in your thoughts.
You don't need a fixed time or place to meditate.
You can do it in your office or home, while sitting or standing whenever you want.
So, the next time you get an emotional or a mental rush. Slow yourself down with meditation.
Music
Research shows that music leaves an impact on your well-being. You can feel inspired, creative, or alert with good music in your playlist. Two kinds of music work best for stress relief.
Upbeat
It’s the music you listen to when you’re at your happiest or motivated, ready to take on the challenges of the day. Upbeat music can alter your brainwaves and your mood.
It also makes you feel optimistic.
Slow tempo
This is the music you can listen to at the end of your day. Music with a low tempo relaxes your mind and sets your heartbeat at ease.
No, No, Yes, Self-Care Tips for Doctors
Say no to your bad habits and say “yes” to this good habit.
Say “No” to Smoking
We care about you. Please, say “no” to smoking.
A five-minute cigarette break daily has long-term health risks attached to it.
Your cardiovascular health worsens, and your lungs get weaker. Smoking also impacts your liver and kidneys.
Say “No” to Alcohol
It is advisable to drink it in moderation. Take not more than 1 or 2 glasses, but occasionally not every day.
Alcohol has long-term health risks that involve:
- Worsening of cardiovascular health.
- Causing different kinds of cancer.
- Cognitive decline.
- Weakening of the immune system.
- Mental health and social life problems.
Say “Yes” To Sleep
Sleep is the best self-care tip for everyone.
Deep sleep improves decision-making and helps you stay highly focused. You can stay alert for longer durations of time during your shift if you keep your sleep in check.
Deep sleep promotes healthy weight loss and a stress-free life.
Important Self-Care Tip for Doctors & Nurses
Doctors and nurses have fast-paced, hectic days.
To go through your days you might prefer choosing a quick snack that is usually sugary foods or drinks.
Always choose a healthier alternative when it comes to food. If you want to look younger then manage your food intake.
Healthy eating also makes you feel energetic, and stay resilient at times of stress.
Healthcare Professionals Should Never Ignore Exercise
Exercise routines are tough to keep up with in your day-to-day lives. Working out a few times a week also gives you many benefits.
Lack of exercise raises blood pressure. It also increases the risk of stroke and other symptoms. If you want the most out of your time then try these time-tested workout routines:
HITT
It stands for high-intensity interval training. This workout routine is popular among doctors.
You can incorporate HIIT workouts like sprints, and hill sprints. The best thing about HIIT is that it improves your heart health while also building muscles.
Strength/Resistance Training
Lifting heavier weights in the gym helps you deal with stress and frustration in your daily life.
If you can’t go to the gym because of a busy schedule then you can also try bodyweight exercises that you can do anywhere.
Yoga
Yoga is the best self-care tip for doctors. Yoga is a blessing for people with fast-paced, unpredictable, work schedules.
As you also deal with emotional ups and downs, yoga can help you manage stress.
It’s a prescription to manage your stress and anxiety levels while staying fit and flexible.
Art Is a Therapy for Medical Professionals Too
This scientific study shows that cortisol decreases by 75% when you’re being creative.
Creative stimulation makes you forget your stress and anxiety and helps you to focus on the task at hand.
So, write, draw, doodle, dance, and enter a healthy flow state to forget your worries.
Doctors Can Gamify Self-Care With Technology
You track the health data of your patients, so why not track yours?
There are apps that help you track your fitness activity and metabolic rates.
With the fitness data, you know if you’re at your peak fitness or peak frustration.
You can track your running or sprinting speed with many apps available on your phone.
You can try tracking your heartbeat or metabolic activity from wrist watches.
Using apps and gadgets to track your fitness and your mood helps you see the patterns that cause you stress.
You make many lifestyle changes to stay fit, stress-free, and healthy.
E.Q Building Tips for Doctors and Nurses
As a healthcare professional developing your emotional quotient is very important.
E.Q improves teamwork and gives you greater career satisfaction.
Here are the 4 areas of focus to improve your E.Q
Self-Awareness
Self-awareness is important in the medical profession.
As your entire medical education was focused on the care of the patient, what about you?
You can try journaling your thoughts to build self-awareness. Because we often lose sight of what is important in intense situations. Journaling helps you learn that pattern.
Self-Management
Self-management is about managing your responses after learning your patterns. You might go through situations where you could lash out at someone or have an emotional breakdown.
The best thing to do in these kinds of situations is to focus on your locus of control. Everyone has a locus of control and reminding yourself of that comes in handy.
No matter what tough external situation arises, ask yourself, “What is in my control, and how can I do my best to focus on that?”
Another thing you can do is write down 3 things you are grateful for, be it your career, parents, friends, or anyone.
Being grateful even for a few minutes enhances your well-being.
Empathy
Being empathetic helps you regulate your emotions.
Empathy helps you to foster new relationships when you identify, and understand the needs and desires of people around you.
One tip you can try is to listen to offer help. Great conversationalists are also great listeners.
Listening to your patients, and colleagues with care can calm you down when stress arises.
Social Skills
Having a friend or a family to talk to in stressful situations can be a great help.
Developing social skills is all about managing relationships and resolving social conflict.
But the better part of social skills is building relationships with people who can nurture, rejuvenate and inspire you to do your best.
Therapy for Healthcare Professionals
Doctors and nurses are trained in self-denial.
Medical professionals are exposed to death, suffering, and intense situations every day.
If none of the tips above work for you then seeking therapy is always an option. Many organisations provide therapy to medical professionals while also maintaining your confidentiality.
Dear superheroes,
What’s your best tips for self-care?
Please comment below because the world needs your expertise.
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