Hi Everyone,
As a recent graduate and having the opportunity to work in a few different settings so far I've had to continuously work on my wellbeing and selfcare as a clinician including finding new strategies and ways to integrate selfcare into my daily routine. For us all to avoid compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma and general burnout it's imperative we all keep on top of this even as students on placement.
What sorts of tasks/strategies do you do to support your wellbeing as clinicians?
Mine include:
Transition tasks from work to home incl. music, calling family/friend
Aiming for daily exercise e.g. 30min walk after walk and walking at lunchtime with colleagues
Reaching out during supervision for tools and supports
Coming home and not thinking about work (as much as possible) and engaging in enjoyable/meaningful occupations such as practising an instrument, cooking, watching a series, reading.
I'm keen to hear from everyone- Students to experience Clinicians.
Hi everyone, This is a great post, such an important topic and one I've been reflecting over properly over the past six months.
What sorts of tasks/strategies do you do to support your wellbeing as clinicians? Burnout is a real thing, unfortunately...I feel that I've been sucked into some of the negativity and aimlessness that happens during a couple of places I've been and this doesn't help. I think for me, one of the most useful things has been to reflect on what I actually enjoy, and what I really think, rather than go along with the flow and to 'absorb' the culture of the place (which has been negative or just lacking in focus/enthusiasm). It has helped for me to reflect whether it's what I actually think, or whether I think that because the place I'm at is contributing to how I think and feel. My workplace has been running 30 minute, guided meditation sessions once a week for staff, and it's counted as work time/professional development. It's not just for Occupational Therapists, but for any staff working at this hospital.. and I've found that it has really helped. I'm a chronic over-thinker at the best of times and so it has helped me to calm my mind and to do something for me - as a result, it has helped my work and improved my practice. Otherwise, I try to switch off when I'm not at work - getting back into my creative hobbies such as photography. Playing squash a couple of times a week, getting out and about over the weekends. Naturally it's a bit different now being in lockdown due to COVID-19, but I can still find ways of keeping this up. Just looks a bit different at the moment. I've also been terrible at planning my annual leave and so this year, we used part of my supervision session to plan out my leave throughout the year and to make sure I had a long weekend booked in for each month. Overall, a lot of reflection this year and giving myself permission to put up some boundaries after years of just doing a little bit more and adding on bits and pieces to my own workload. I'm hoping that this will help me to enjoy where I'm at more.