Medical travel isn’t the most linear or structured career in the world, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The free-flowing nature of it allows for a lot of freedom to choose where you work, when you work and where you go next.
And for medical travelers who need some structure in their lives, planning out your next career moves can be really helpful. However, the last few years have been a bit difficult to plan. Uncertainty is one of the buzzwords of the last few years, and everyone manages uncertainty differently.
It is completely okay to feel anxious about your future, the world and even just your day-to-day life. Medicine can be a very high-pressure, demanding line of work—and dealing with a pandemic certainly doesn’t make anything easier. If you’re experiencing anxiety of any kind, we have your back.
Below are just a few of many ways to manage anxiety while working in a medical facility. At the end of the day, do what works best for you and know your LRS family supports you.
Find Your Support Person
No matter how short or long your contract is, your coworkers are your team. Teams support each other, and in hard times they keep each other going. Find a coworker you can trust who can tell when you need support. When things get stressful, you can look to them to hold you up. Sometimes just a smile from someone who has your back can help a bit.
Prioritize Your Health
One of the best ways to take care of yourself is to get more and better sleep. But here’s the problem—anxiety makes it extremely difficult to get quality sleep. When you’re anxious, your brain has trouble settling down enough to effectively sleep. Regardless, trying to rest as much as you can helps. Some healthy foods are known to give you energy through the day and encourage sleep at night. These include: greek yogurt, whole grains, beans, cherries and avocado.
Regular exercise is also very important for not only your body, but your mind. Exercise is a healthy outlet for you to take out your worries and clear your head. And exercising outdoors gives you the benefit of fresh air on top of all the benefits of a workout.
Don’t Be Afraid to Take a Break
Recognizing that you’re feeling anxiety is the first step to managing it. Once you are aware of anxiety and develop some habits for managing it, you can better monitor how you’re feeling on any given day. If it ever feels like too much, it could be in your best interest to step away for a bit.
In order to provide the best care for patients, we have to care for ourselves. Sometimes, that means taking a break away from work to relax and refocus. Don’t feel bad for asking for time away—in the long run, you’ll be more prepared to take on the day.
When it comes to handling anxiety in all its forms, be sure to prioritize yourself and ask for what you need. You, our LRS team, are excellent medical professionals and we’re proud to work with you. Life isn’t always easy, and neither is this profession, but we can support each other through anything.
