Welcome back to part 2 of our blog series about the 10 best tips for Professional Carers on overcoming workplace stress. Last week we covered the first 5, so if you haven’t already read it, head on over and check it out!
Without further ado, here are the final 5!
Set realistic goals
Something that can cause stress is having a lot of things going on at once – especially if you’re trying to achieve many different things. Not getting things done, or not achieving your goals can put a lot of pressure on yourself so it’s important to be realistic when it comes to such things.
Setting goals for your career and life is a great way to inspire yourself to get things done, but it’s no use being unrealistic about them. You need to make sure your long-term goals are achievable and that you have some shorter term things that you can work towards along the way. For example, if you’re wanting to become an RN at an Aged Care facility, something that can take a bit of time, then some good goals to set along the way could be to complete a semester of your Diploma of Nursing, or to get a volunteer job at a hospital.
Talk to someone
Stress can sometimes be a symptom of something greater, such as depression or anxiety. It’s really important to identify if you’re feeling overly stressed most of the time, as it could be due to something that you can’t control.
If that’s the case, then don’t be afraid to talk to someone about it. It can be difficult at first to make the step up to see a professional (such as a psychologist), so start off with a friend or family member. That can be enough in the beginning, knowing that you’ve got someone who will listen to you.
Take up a hobby outside of work
As rewarding as being a Professional Carer is, it can’t be everything – and your work-life balance is vital. As we spoke about last week, having a fulfilling social life is key, but sometimes you just want time to do your own thing. Which is why it’s a great idea to take up a hobby. This can be anything from painting, to team-sports or even surfing!
A hobby will give you something to look forward to when you’re having a hard stressful week and gives you that time alone to let off some steam and reset for your next shift. It will also help your mind to focus on other things besides work, meaning you won’t find yourself burning out so easily.
Make lists, be organised and get into a good routine at work
It’s always better to have something written down then have it all in your head – especially when you’re on the job, as caring has many different tasks that need doing each day. This is why it’s a good idea to make lists at work. Doing this will give you something to refer back to so you don’t forget anything. There is nothing more stressful than feeling like you’ve forgotten to do an important task!
With a list you can also prioritise your duties in a logical order, ensuring the task is being done correctly and efficiently. Getting into this routine will mean that you are more organised and have a clearer idea of what you need to do on your shift. When you have line-of-sight about what’s going on in your work environment, you will be able to do your job to the highest possible quality, which ultimately means you will be stressed less!
Get a good night’s sleep
Easier said than done, but sometimes reducing your stress levels is as easy as getting a good night’s sleep. Often people will feel frustrated, agitated and stressed because of a lack of sleep – it affects everyone. This is why it’s so important, because no one is immune to it!
Try to get into a habit of sleeping around the same time every night and stick to it. Getting into this routine will mean your body will adjust and help you fall asleep at this particular time – just make sure it’s not too late!
As for how many hours you need? Well, it’s different for everybody, some people only need 6 hours and others need 10. Only you know exactly how much you need and once you do, make sure that you get that amount every night. You’ll see the positive effects it has on your ability to stay calm and composed at work.
Well there you have it! The final 5 of our 10 best tips for Professional Carers on how to overcome workplace stress. We hope you’ve enjoyed it, and as always, leave your own tips in the comments below.