If you’re working a standard 40-hour work week, you spend about a third of each weekday at your job. If you experience stress at work, it can be challenging to leave it behind — especially if you know you’ll be returning for another 8 hours the next day.
According to a 2023 report on stress in America, 46% of respondents were concerned about their work-life balance. It’s well known that healthcare jobs can be stressful and demanding. If you’re finding it challenging to maintain a healthy work-life balance, here are a few tips to avoid bringing the stress of your day home.
Brain Dump Journal
Do you find yourself constantly thinking about stressful situations at work? Maybe there is a hostile coworker or a patient you became close to who passed. Your manager might have denied your time off request or placed you on low-census for the evening when you needed the income.
There are countless reasons why the workday might have been stressful. One method to handle the stress of the day is keeping a journal in your bag or car so that you can “dump” all of the stress before you walk through the door of your home. If you drive to work, consider taking 5 minutes in the parking lot after your shift to write down what’s bothering you.
If you take public transportation, write down your stressors as you ride home from work. Simply dumping your work stress into a journal won’t change the problems, but it can help get it off your chest and mind so you can be fully present at home.
Work it Out
There’s nothing like a good endorphin release to help manage the day’s stress. Try to squeeze in exercise before you go home. If you have the time, consider trying a Zumba or kickboxing class. It can feel good to have a sense of community and get your blood pumping.
If you’d rather exercise solo, pop on some headphones and lift weights or run on a track. And if you’re short on time, consider bringing exercise clothes to work. You can change in a work locker room or bathroom and go for a power walk or quick run before heading home.
Make Practical Changes
It’s essential to understand what your most significant work stressors are. Some stress is modifiable. For example, there are usually opportunities to modify hours, work different shifts, or move to a different department.
However, some stress isn’t as easily fixed. For example, if you face a workplace bully and don’t have supportive management, or your unit is constantly understaffed, it might be time to explore other options.
It’s important to recognize that no workplace is perfect. If you are experiencing a regular stressor at work, professionally seeking out a resolution is usually the best first step. Hopefully, you have a supportive manager or supervisor to schedule a time to talk with and explain why you feel overwhelmed. Bring solutions to this meeting so you aren’t just complaining.
If you attempt to modify a stressor and have had respectful talks with your leadership about managing what’s bothering you at work, and none of it is working, it may be time to move on.
One option to explore is contract healthcare staffing. Contract staffing can provide a nice break and a change of pace for those seeking a career change. If you’re open to moving, you can explore new workplaces, network, gain new skill sets, and even see another part of the country.
365 Healthcare Staffing Services cares about employee well-being and healthy work-life balance.
With several positions open nationwide, they would love to help you find the right fit. Browse their open positions and reach out to their recruiters with questions.
