Stress Management
Tips on how to manage stress in a clinical environment.
These things I learnt from practice and from a course with Crampton Consulting in Leadership.
It was interesting to know that stress can manifest very differently in people and when each individual clearly identified what their key stressors were, myself included, I could find ways to manage as best I could to prevent myself from reaching the point of panic attacks.
Keeping a stress journal or a notebook to note what your key stressors are, is a handy tip.
Also being mindful that certain staff may be acting a certain way due to stress, and reaching out in any capacity can go a long way! 🤍
YOU
It is important to find the ways that YOU destress.
Whether it be:
5 minutes outside to be away from the environment
Time to step away and focus on your breathing
Listening to a song that makes you feel present within yourself
Finding the right time to check in with yourself when it all feels too overwhelming, can save that feeling from escalating to the point of no return.
It can prevent overall exhaustion by doing things like stretching, grounding yourself with breathing exercises and taking a moment to check in with your senses.
YOUR TEAM
When possible, checking in on your colleagues can go a long way.
If you notice a staff member has been involved in a particularly stressful event, encourage them to take some time to decompress.
Minimizing the stress on your team can also consist of very small things like:
Offering to help in other areas when there is downtime (”we’re all in this together”- Thank you high school musical)
Where comfortable, asking if they would like to debrief about an event
Recommend the cutest patient in the hospital for them to have a cuddle with…
Stress can present differently with each individual.
A great way to identify your stressors is to reflect.
Enabling this allows for better processing of a particularly stressful event and can also encourage more self-awareness.
If you are concerned about a team member and don’t know where to start, reaching out in any capacity can make them feel seen and heard.
For more information visit:
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/stress-management.htm
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/stress
https://positivepsychology.com/stress-management-techniques-tips-burn-out/
