As a healthcare professional, you’re used to working in high-stress environments that demand resilience – from navigating the COVID-19 pandemic to having a difficult patient assignment. Resilience is determined by your ability to adapt to challenging situations and maintain the momentum to get through them despite the pressures. In this blog, we explore essential tools and techniques to foster resilience in healthcare so that you can better handle stress, avoid burnout, and continue providing compassionate care to patients.
6 Tools and Techniques to Build Resilience in Healthcare
1. Mindfulness
Regular mindfulness practices can significantly enhance resilience by reducing stress, strengthening focus, and promoting emotional stability, allowing you to stay present and respond with greater composure in difficult circumstances. Mindfulness techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, and progressive muscle relaxation can be easily incorporated into your daily routine.
If you’re unsure how to get started, multiple mindfulness resources are easily accessible from your phone. You can download apps like Headspace, Calm, and Insight Timer, which offer guided meditations, mindfulness exercises, and sleep aids. You can also access guided meditations on YouTube for quick relief when you’re in a stressful situation.
2. Physical Activity
Carving out a little ‘you-time’ to exercise is a great way to build resilience. Not only does exercise improve your physical health, but it can also enhance your mood and boost your energy levels. Setting goals with exercise can also give you something positive to focus on that will build resilience outside of your job. For instance, you can train for a marathon, practice new yoga moves, or set new personal bests for whatever type of exercise you like to do. Working toward your goal – knowing that you are showing up for yourself on good and bad days – can help you build resilience that you will carry with you in every facet of life.
3. Professional Support Networks
Who understands the stresses of your job better than your coworkers? Engaging with them, sharing experiences, and seeking advice can provide both emotional support and practical solutions. Having a shift buddy or participating in peer support groups and team-building activities can foster a sense of community and collective strength. If you want additional ways to connect with healthcare professionals who understand the stresses of the job, you can also participate in online communities and forums.
4. Continuing Education and Training
Another way to build resilience is to have more experience with the stresses of the job. Ongoing education and training can help you stay updated with the latest knowledge and skills and enhance your confidence and competence to handle stressful situations at work. Consider training programs focused on stress management, communication skills, and emotional intelligence, useful skills for you to use in challenging situations.
5. Reflective Practices
Reflective practices give you the time and space to analyze your experiences to gain insights and develop a deeper understanding of your personal strengths and areas for improvement. Reflective practices might include journaling, debriefing sessions, or just chatting with a friend to help you process your experiences and learn from them.
6. Get Help
It’s always okay to ask for help. Starting sessions with a mental health professional can give you a safe place to vent and strategies to manage your stress, change negative thought patterns, and build resilience to stay focused in the moment.
Building resilience in healthcare is a multifaceted endeavor that will likely require a combination of the above techniques and tools. Know that it might take a while to find what works best for you, and that’s normal. It’s just part of the journey as you develop the resilience needed to navigate your work environment and continue with your passion for providing high-quality patient care. For more wellness tips, check out our blog on how to avoid burnout for healthcare workers.
