Being a healthcare provider in the age of COVID-19 can take your stress levels to new heights, but there are ways you can protect yourself. 

<p>
  Being a healthcare provider in the age of COVID-19 can take your stress levels
  to new heights, but there are ways you can protect yourself. Healthcare
  workers are often encouraged to maintain a good self-care routine, and that
  has never been more important than now. You may be facing a level of work
  stress you&rsquo;ve never experienced before, and the best way to counter that
  stress is by making time to calm your mind and strengthen your body during
  your down time. Getting plenty of sleep and exercise, as well as eating
  healthy, should be at the top of your self-care list, but a number of other
  activities, such as journaling, breathing exercises and meditation can be
  helpful, as well.
</p>

<h2>You Are What You Eat: Mind, Body and Spirit</h2>

<p>
  Do you ever notice when you&rsquo;re stressed out, you suddenly start craving
  foods like French fries, ice cream, chocolate and generally anything high in
  carbs and calories? A number of studies have shown that there&rsquo;s a
  chemical explanation for this in the form of a short-term dopamine release
  that provides a burst of energy and happiness. Unfortunately, the downside is
  you may end up feeling even worse before that junk food is digested. Fun fact:
  did you know that doing even a small amount of exercise can release the same
  feel-good chemicals and produce the same effects? Try doing a hundred jumping
  jacks or take a 30-minute walk outside before you reach for a food choice you
  might regret. You may be surprised to find that you&rsquo;re not even craving
  those fries or cookies anymore! COVID-19-based social distancing requirements
  can make finding healthy foods like fresh fruits and vegetables difficult at
  times, but just do the best you can.
</p>

<h2>Journaling: Writing Out Your Feelings Can Have Surprising Benefits</h2>

<p>
  Sometimes when our lives get stressful, it can help to talk about it with a
  friend or loved one. Often, they can offer a new perspective, advice or ideas
  about how you can better cope with the situation. Healthcare workers dealing
  with COVID-19, however, may find it difficult to talk about what they may be
  experiencing, either because of social distancing, or because they just
  don&rsquo;t want to upset friends or loved ones with what they share. In this
  case, journaling could prove to be extremely helpful. You don&rsquo;t need a
  fancy, leather-bound book to start journaling. Just grab a notebook, or even
  some loose sheets of paper, and start writing about whatever is on your mind.
  You could write when you wake up in the morning, after your shift, or before
  you go to bed. Sometimes writing out your thoughts, feelings and emotions can
  have a cathartic effect similar to what you might experience if you were
  actually talking to someone else. If this style of journaling doesn&rsquo;t
  appeal to you, there is another writing technique that you may find helpful.
  It involves starting &ndash; or ending -- each day by writing down a list of
  things for which you are grateful. Trying to make a list of five or ten things
  every day, and include things like people, places and activities that are
  meaningful to you. This can help you shift your focus onto those people,
  places and activities, which can be a great way to lower your anxiety.
</p>

<h2>
  Meditation: Train Your Mind to Focus on the Positive, Even During COVID-19
</h2>

<p>
  Another stress-relief method healthcare providers fighting COVID-19 might want
  to try is meditation. People are often intimidated by meditation, as though
  it&rsquo;s something that only yoga masters and Zen Buddhists should attempt
  or can accomplish properly. Another way to look at it, however, is as a simple
  method to train your mind to shift its focus. There are numerous websites,
  books and online videos that can teach you about different meditation
  techniques, some of which can be quite intricate. One of the easiest methods
  is to simply find a comfortable spot, sit up straight, close your eyes and
  gently concentrate on letting go of any thoughts you may have until your mind
  is perfectly clear. Start by acknowledging each though individually, and then
  allow yourself to release it from your mind, watching it drift away from your
  head like a helium balloon. Repeat this with every thought that enters your
  mind, until your mind is clear and you feel completely still, for at least
  five to ten minutes, or longer if you are able. Don&rsquo;t worry if you
  can&rsquo;t clear your mind the first time, or even the first few times.
  Practicing your ability to reach that state is where the benefit truly lies.
</p>

<h2>
  Breathing Exercises to Help Healthcare Providers Fighting COVID-19 De-Stress
</h2>

<p>
  The phrase &ldquo;take a deep breath&rdquo; didn&rsquo;t become a
  clich&eacute; by accident. The truth is, it&rsquo;s a very powerful way to
  relieve stress when done mindfully. In fact, taking a deep breath, or if
  possible, a number of them, is one of the easiest way healthcare providers
  fighting COVID-19 can relax, whether it&rsquo;s the middle of a shift or after
  work when you&rsquo;re trying to sleep. If you Google breathing techniques
  that relieve stress, a number of options will show up in the results,
  including 4-7-8 breathing, alternate nostril breathing and abdominal
  breathing. All of these methods can help you calm your nerves and relax, and
  we encourage you look into each of them to see which works best for you. A
  simple stress-relieving exercise that can help in mere moments, however, is
  deep breathing. Sit comfortably with a straight back and breath in deeply
  through your nose. Then, exhale completely through your mouth, pushing out
  every bit of air that may be lingering in your chest and abdominal cavities.
  Whether you only have time for three deep breaths or can continue this
  activity for longer, you will find that a feeling of deep relaxation can be
  almost immediate.
</p>

<p>
  Ready to take the stress out of your healthcare career and find a schedule
  that works best for you? Relax, and
  <a href="https://www.crosscountrymsn.com/job-search"
    >check out our current opportunities</a
  >.
</p>


At Home Stress Relief for Healthcare Providers During a COVID-19