How do you deal with stress and optimize your mental health? These issues are essential for all of us, especially in a profession that involves caring for people or helping them care for themselves. Here are a few tips to keep your mental health in check.
Keep a Journal
Writing things down can be helpful in a lot of ways. It can help you organize your thoughts, sort through feelings, or remember something important. A journal is your private place to do that—or whatever else you need to do. However you do it, it can be a place to work through something—including something you may not feel comfortable talking about just yet—in a private, non-judgey space.
Exercise
Did you know the benefits of exercise go far beyond the physical? It also relieves stress, improves memory, helps you sleep better, and boosts your overall mood. And it doesn’t have to be extreme—or extremely strenuous—to help. Research indicates that modest amounts of exercise can make a difference.
Identify Your Support System
Who’s there for you when you need to chat, vent, or get something off your chest? It’s essential to have people who will listen when you need an ear; they may also be the people you turn to when you want to celebrate or grieve life’s events. Social support is what gives you the push you need to overcome life’s adversities and regain control of the situation.
Practice Gratitude
What are you grateful for today? What has made you grateful this week? It’s not just about counting your blessings or adding up the things that made you happy. In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. And there are other essential benefits, as well: gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.
Care for Yourself
What do you do for yourself? The answer is different for everyone. For some people, self-care means taking a walk alone to think; for others, it means taking the time to cook a meal, rather than grabbing fast food. Self-care is about taking care of yourself, but it can feel tough to find the time to do that. Fortunately, self-care doesn’t need to be expensive or time-consuming. Even small changes to your routine, like getting more light in the morning, can improve your overall mood and make for a more stress-free day. That can have a very positive impact on your mental health.
Get Enough Sleep
When is the last time you got enough sleep? Did you know that REM sleep helps our brains improve learning skills, memory, and overall emotional health? That’s why not getting enough of it can take such a significant toll. It’s important to make sleep a priority.
Your Mental Health Is Important
At 365 Healthcare Staffing Services, we specialize in the recruitment and placement of healthcare professionals in per diem, travel, and permanent assignments in healthcare facilities across the country. When you take care of yourself, including your mental health, it helps you excel in life, including your job. When you’re ready for your next assignment, we’ll be here to help; give us a call at 310.436.3650.
