One of the major challenges faced by frontline healthcare workers is stress. Their schedule is so hectic that stress happens to be an extremely common part of their lives. Normal stress is common for all but if this stress transforms into chronic stress over time, it is a matter of immense concern. This, in turn, can lead to deterioration of health of the workers and at the same time hampers their work or productivity to a great extent. Stress happens to affects the mental health of healthcare workers which contributes to the deterioration of their physical health and disrupts their work schedule. Therefore, it is always recommended that stress in healthcare workers should never be ignored and seek help from experts as per the need. To make life easier for the healthcare workers, here we have listed the top five strategies to reduce their stress.
- Resting Between Shifts
It is understandable that healthcare workers have an extremely tight schedule with an insufficient gap between their shifts. This, in turn, reduces their resting time to a great extent. Therefore, the ideal strategy in this regard would be to rest as much as possible between the shifts. Research has proven that inadequate sleep can lead to declining performance and neurological functioning, thereby increasing the chances of injury as well as poor health behaviours.
- Meditation Can be the Key
Meditation plays a vital role in calming the nerves and helps focus on the positives instead of the negatives. Deep breathing also helps in this regard since it helps the flow of oxygen throughout the body. Repeating this process five to ten times a day can be extremely helpful in relieving stress. Experimenting with different types of meditation is great for the mind and body and is a fantastic way to reduce stress in healthcare workers.
- Eating Healthy
Eating a balanced and healthy diet is of immense importance in maintaining overall good mental as well as physical health. A healthy diet has the ability to better manage stress levels. It is quite unfortunate that stress affects the ability of humans to make healthy choices in life. Thus, it becomes of utmost importance to eat healthy at all times so that better decisions can be made. Nutrients such as Omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin C can reduce the levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, as well as blood pressure along with boosting the immune system.
- Exercising is a Must
Stress in healthcare workers statistics as shown by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that healthcare reveals that healthcare workers toil in some of the most difficult circumstances. Additionally, the COVID 19 pandemic has increased the pressure on them and hence stresses them out. In this regard, another important stress-relieving strategy is exercising. A combination of a healthy diet and proper exercise happens to be a great way to manage the levels of stress. Regular physical activity enhances the body’s defence mechanism, reduces fatigue, and sharpens the mind.
- Socializing with Family and Friends
Socializing with family members and friends can be extremely helpful in keeping the mind relaxed as well as happy. This, in turn, plays a crucial role in keeping stress at bay and therefore happens to be one of the most important strategies to reduce stress in healthcare workers.
Being a part of the frontline healthcare workers’ team, if you find yourself to be stressed out, do not worry and try out the strategies mentioned above to not only better manage stress but also focus on their work without compromising on their health.
