Prioritizing Self-Care for Healthcare Workers

Healthcare workers show up day in and day out to ensure that our loved ones are cared for. These dedicated individuals serve patients (and their families) under the most stressful conditions, to the point of exhaustion and burnout. Their compassion and concern for those in their care too often trumps their own basic needs, rendering them unaware of the long-term negative impact on their own overall wellness. 

In March of 2022, The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) reported that at least 50% of caretakers across various medical fields reported severe burnout symptoms, including emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and a low sense of professional accomplishment. Staff burnout has reached crisis levels as the pandemic continues to take a toll on the already-stretched-thin healthcare field.  

It is essential that the healthcare industry takes its workers' well-being seriously and that the workers themselves do the same. The importance of proactively taking care of physical, emotional, and mental health must be understood, promoted, and prioritized if we want our healthcare system to continue to function. So, what does self-care look like for healthcare workers? 

While there's no one-size-fits-all mold or pattern, an effective self-care plan should address various areas—physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and personal. Intentionally taking time to unwind, even if it’s just for ten minutes a day, can do wonders for managing stress. Some ideas for self-care include: 

• Making time for a regular exercise routine
• Taking the time to connect with family and friends socially
• Giving yourself permission for "me time"
• Setting boundaries that separate work from personal/family time
• Scheduling time to engage in activities just because they are enjoyable
• Prioritizing healthy eating and sleeping habits
• Protecting physical health by prioritizing routine/preventative health screenings
• Finding things that promote mental and physical relaxation—reading, napping, walking, meditation, cooking, watching TV

While recognizing the signs and symptoms of mental health conditions in patients is considered routine, too often those same warning signs go unnoticed in healthcare workers. Whether being too busy to seek treatment, wary of how it may impact career opportunities, or being in a state of denial, not addressing their mental health concerns happens far too often. 

Online screening is one of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether a person is experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition. Mental Health America offers a host of self-administered screenings, following them up with information, resources, and tools to understand and improve one's mental health. Participants are encouraged to share the results with a medical professional who can provide a comprehensive assessment and recommend options to help. 

Mental health resources and support exists in a variety of ways. Something that healthcare workers may not have considered is right at their fingertips – apps. Apps that focus on mental health have no-to-minimal cost, and can provide users with relief, support, and a sense of community.

Individuals working in the healthcare field can receive additional support via their Employee Assistance Program (EAP). EAPs provide a range of confidential support for employees, such as connecting them with assessments, short-term counseling, and referrals. Typically, services available via EAP are offered at no cost.

Only by prioritizing self-care, can healthcare workers continue to offer the excellent care they yearn to deliver to their patients.