While the holiday season can be joyous, fun and exciting, many of us equate it with the stress of juggling staff schedules and patients staying with other relatives. For many of us, just hearing the word “holiday” can create anxiety and stress. Work/life balance can be a challenge at any time of the year, but add in increased office and patient needs with your own family obligations and you are sure to be overwhelmed!
With that in mind, here are six tips to help you reduce stress over the holidays:
Tip 1: Create Your Plan
You may be very good at scheduling your time with patients, but the holidays increased traffic leaves less time to travel between appointments. Additionally, many clinics close for the holidays making it even more difficult to reach doctors. No need to stress. Try adding ten minutes to your drive time and reach out to clinics for holiday hours and schedules to help you stay connected.
Tip 2: Empower Yourself
Yes, there is an app for that! Technology provides the tools you need to be more efficient with your time. Download the Axxess app to manage your patient charts and schedules on your tablet and mobile phone device. Holiday spending can also cause stress. Download the best seasonal apps to help save money on your holiday shopping such as this list of Best Apps for Holiday Shoppers by Forbes.
Tip 3: Schedule Your Time
It can be overwhelming to fit into your schedule time to train for the new rules and regulations beginning in January along with the numerous events you are invited to during the holidays. Exhaustion may catch up with you from working all day, shopping and attending holiday functions after work and weekends. Give yourself permission to respectfully decline some of the invitations this year to make the time more manageable and enjoyable.
Tip 4: Keep Your Workouts
You stress the importance of exercise with your patients. Exercise produces endorphins which will help you feel happy and relaxed. Maintaining your exercise routine over the holidays will help reduce stress while also burning calories from some of those delicious cookies your co-workers and patients’ family members have prepared for you to enjoy.
Tip 5: Focus on the Good
During the holidays patients may become sicker, especially those with chronic conditions such as respiratory diseases, arthritis and diabetes. Working in healthcare is a continual reminder of the blessings and the challenges we and those we love and care for experience over the course of your lives. Whatever you focus on expands to other areas of your life, so keep your thoughts merry. Choose to let go of situations bothering you and practice gratitude for all that is in your life. It’s one of the best medicines according to The Neuroscience of Why Gratitude Makes Us Healthier: “In one study on gratitude, conducted by Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D., at the University of California at Davis and his colleague Mike McCullough at the University of Miami, participants in the gratitude group felt better about their lives as a whole and were a full 25 percent happier than the hassled group. They reported fewer health complaints, and exercised an average of 1.5 hours more.”
Tip 6: Breathe
Regardless of how well you manage your schedules and cash flow, inevitably you stress over your patients, your staff, family and your budgets. No matter where you are; at the office, in a patients’ home or with family, remember to breathe. Restore your sanity and lower your blood pressure with deep belly breaths. Stop. Take a deep breath. Repeat.
Be smart. Be safe. Be merry and have a great holiday season!
