In The Throes Of Covid Burnout, What Can We Learn From Healthcare’s Thrivers?
angers and excites you; and what
brings you joy, peace, wonder, or
meaning. Make micro- and macro
adjustments as needed.
They nourish and cherish their
relationships. This is the second
critical factor for healthcare
workers. We are social creatures,
but the intense work of healthcare
can be isolating, and our fatigue
after work hours isolates us
further. Because we are tired and
drained, we may stop going out
and developing new friendships.
It’s critical to stop this cycle and
fully commit to nourishing your
relationships—with coworkers as
well as loved ones.
They debrief the challenges
of the day and celebrate
the uplifts. Sharing hurtful
experiences from the dark side of
your work life—disappointments,
embarrassment, confrontations,
resilience breakdowns, etc.—can
build empathy and lessen the
pain. When you share (or listen to
colleagues as they share), focus
on the effect of the experience(s)
rather than the details. How
did it feel? What were the
lessons learned? How could the
storyteller have managed the
events or his or her responses to
them differently? Likewise, make
a habit of seeking, collecting, and
reflecting on daily uplifts. This is
not just a feel-good ploy. Multiple
studies support the concept
that “collecting” uplifts can
significantly boost well-being and
counter psychological distress.
They celebrate being part of the
healthcare team. In the midst of
your daily work, it is important
to keep sight of what you and
your colleagues are all trying
to do. No matter what part you
play in healthcare, your work
contributes—it has real meaning,
and you should revel in that fact.
If you are not directly involved in
patient care, your influence may
feel more abstract. Try to trace
the steps from your particular
work to its eventual impact on
the care of a single patient who is
sick or injured. It’s likely that the
degrees of separation are very
few, no matter your job.
Thrivers demystify and partner
with leadership. Work on breaking
the “us versus them” mentality.
Don’t just take comfort in the
notion that there’s a team
dedicated to facilitating your
work efforts, but befriend and
engage them in your efforts to
provide high-quality, high-efficiency
work. Seek to understand
your leadership’s infrastructure;
learn how decisions are made
and enacted, and identify the key
players in your sphere of function.
Take any opportunity to meet and
chat with them and educate them
on your role, and volunteer for
institutional committees.
Get involved. Be known; be seen.
When there’s a problem, don’t
rail at your administrators.
Calmly discuss problems with
them and bring a selection of
possible solutions.
They maintain healthy habits no
matter how busy they are. You
must find a balance between
working hard and getting enough
rest, exercise, and good nutrition,
so you can maintain your physical
and mental health. A few tips for
building healthy habits:
●● Commit to getting frequent
exercise—even if only in
15-minute bursts during
your work break. Schedule
movement into your
calendar and show up for it
no matter what.
●● Seek balance in your food/
drink intake. Discuss your
diet with a nutritionist and
learn to cook some healthy
meals at home (restaurant
food is loaded with sugar
and fat!).
●● Bring healthy snacks to
work so you won’t be
tempted to indulge in junk
food. Apples, oranges,
celery, and nuts are good
options—just watch your
portion control.
●● Save sodas for occasional
treats. Drink water or
diluted fruit juice instead.
Stay hydrated!
●● Practice good sleep
hygiene. Avoid extended
naps during the day; limit
non-sleep-related activities
in your bedroom; keep your
bedroom dark, quiet, and
cool. Avoid alcohol and
screen time just before
bed and clear troubling
thoughts by focusing on
positive events.
Personal Excellence presented by HR.com SEPTEMBER 2021 11 Submit Your Articles
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