3 Ways for Healthcare Professionals to Achieve Work–Life Balance
By Scott Tschappat
Eight out of ten nurses say their mental health has been affected by COVID-19. (1) With the pandemic entering its third year, it’s no wonder healthcare professionals are feeling high levels of stress and burnout. If you’re a healthcare professional, achieving a better work-life balance will not only improve your well-being, but will also reflect a more positive energy and enthusiasm to your patients. Here are three ways healthcare professionals can prevent burnout and improve their work-life balance.
1. Prioritize Your Own Needs
Your life is just as important as your patients’ lives. If you’re tired and stressed out, the quality of care you give could suffer. While you may still perform the same duties, a more positive energy can do wonders for your performance at work. There’s actually a strong link between “positivity” and health; studies have shown that a positive attitude can improve outcomes and life satisfaction across a spectrum of conditions including brain injuries, strokes, and brain tumors. (2) If you’re able to destress well, your positive energy will radiate to your patients and they’ll hopefully have better outcomes.
Be sure to give yourself enough time to decompress after a shift. Get those 8 hours of sleep you always preach about, exercise regularly, and take some time to practice mindfulness through meditation.
2. Don’t Take Work Home With You
While there’s constant coverage of COVID-19 updates and new research coming out every day, it’s important to make sure you don’t bring that added stress home with you. Try to unplug from social media and news outlets that tend to stress you out.
You spend all day taking care of others at work, so the last thing you want to do is take care of your home. Try delegating chores that take up your valuable time. If that isn’t possible, try small maintenance cleaning during the week like cleaning surfaces and spot cleaning. Clean out all unnecessary items to reduce clutter and make it easier to keep things clean.
3. Reach Out for Help
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or depressed, it’s important to reach out for help. Talk to friends and family about what you’re experiencing and maybe some ways they can help you out. If necessary, speak with your managers about your work conditions and hours. It’s always wise to reach out for professional help, whether that be in the form of a therapist or a trusted advisor to help ease any worries about the future or your finances.
If money or planning for retirement is too stressful or you just don’t have the time to worry about it, we can make it easy for you. At Acute WealthCare, we are committed to helping healthcare workers create a financial plan that brings them comfort and dignity. Take a step toward a better work-life balance by making financial planning easier and schedule a 15-minute introductory phone call today.
About Scott
Scott Tschappat is a wealth advisor at Acute WealthCare, an independent, fee-based comprehensive financial services firm with over 20 years of experience. Scott is committed to helping his healthcare worker clients create a financial plan that brings them comfort and dignity. Scott learned the importance of proper financial management and making a plan for the unexpected at a young age when his father passed away suddenly and he watched his mother use the life insurance money wisely to take care of their needs, both present and future. He strives to steward his clients’ money well, as if it were his own mother’s, and help them every step on the journey to their financial future.
Scott lives in Highlands Ranch, CO, with his wife, Bridget, a school counselor at All Souls Catholic School, and their two daughters, Sarah and Emily. He loves sports and has been lucky enough to coach both of his daughters’ basketball teams. In the spring and summer, you can find Scott getting his hands dirty gardening and enjoying live music at Red Rocks or another local venue. To learn more about Scott, connect with him on LinkedIn. You can also register for his latest webinar on What We Do & How We Help.____________
(2) https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-power-of-positive-thinking
