Gratitude and Self Care

Gratitude is probably one of the greatest gifts you can give to your coworkers. From time to time, everyone feels a little burnt out, like they aren’t doing a good enough job, or like they are failing their patients. When you notice a coworker feeling this way, it might be a good idea to tell them how much you appreciate what they do. If a coworker helps you with a task, technique, or a patient, it is also really important to thank them, and show them how much you appreciate their time and effort. When I am overly stressed or being too hard on myself, I give myself an afternoon to take a walk, read a book, nap, or even do a craft. This helps me take some pressure off myself. I also find that exercising is very stress relieving for me, so I try to get some exercise in every day.

One thing I like to do to decompress is take a walk, without my phone in nature. This helps me reconnect with myself, and takes me out of the situation that may be stressing me out. If this were to happen to me at work, I could take my lunch outside or in a comfy place. This would give me a place to relax and think, even if it was just for a few minutes. If I am really feeling stressed I can practice this technique after my shift ends at home as well.