W-10 Provider Self-Care

Provider Self-Care

Post#1 by Olber Lacosta

Provider burnout refers to a state of mental and physical exhaustion that can zap the joy of career, friendships, and family interactions. Individuals with burnout tend to feel exhausted, overwhelmed, and dissatisfied; thus, they can end up losing their relationships with family and friends. Besides, they can suffer from the trauma of balancing work with other life activities. Therefore, as a provider, I need to transform and emphasize my psychological health and wellbeing in toxic work-related stress that may lead to burnout. After knowing my personality and coping skills, I have set various boundaries and self-care mechanisms as goals to deter me from burnout.

One of the mechanisms that I have put in place to enhance self-care and deter burnout is doing regular exercises. Exercises are not only good for our physical health, but they are also excellent for our emotional boost. Whenever one is stressed, exercises can play a significant role in relieving distress. I have, therefore, set regular exercises as one of my mechanisms to deter burnout and enhance my self-care. To engage in these exercises, I do not have to necessarily go to the gym, but mini workouts and short walks are convenient methods to make exercises a daily habit. With regular exercises, I will easily overcome the exhaustion and irritability that come with burnout.

The other mechanism that I have set is taking a balanced diet that is full of nutrients. Studies show that eating nutrition full of omega-3 fatty acids can act as a natural antidepressant, thus relieving an individual from stress. A provider who is continually exposed to high levels of stress can experience burnout. And to overcome this burnout, one needs to take antidepressants like any other patient who has a mental disorder. However, one should not necessarily take medication since a well-balanced diet with omega-3 fatty acids can act as a natural antidepressant. I have, therefore, a plan to always have a well-balanced diet to enhance self-care and deter burnout.

The other strategy is practicing a good sleep habit. Whenever our bodies get exhausted, they need to rest and reset for our wellbeing. In my case, I have set good sleeping habits to ensure that I do not overstrain my body. Some of the strategies that I have developed are avoiding caffeine use during bedtime, creating a relaxing bedtime ritual, and avoiding using a smartphone once I get to the bed. With all these strategies in place, I will always enhance self-care and deter burnouts.

And the last strategy to enhance self-care and deter burnout is maintaining a work-life balance. We are often predisposed to ranking work above everything without realizing that burnouts are caused by the exhaustion, irritability, and stress that comes from work. Therefore, it always essential to balance the two, work and life. As a provider, one of the things that I have prioritized is connecting with other people and life outside work. I have set a physical restriction, whereby I tag various areas such as bedrooms as off-boundaries for work. I have also established a psychological boundary, where I always say no when I can no longer take any more work. With such limits, I can have time for myself, friends, and even my family, which can, in turn, enhance self-care and deter burnouts.