Frontline professionals were working as our heroes even before 2020, but with the pandemic now hitting us all hard, their heroism deserves a new level of appreciation. From missed meals to double shifts, and from sleep deprivation to breakdown of mental health — frontline workers are facing some of the hardest challenges out there today.
It’s a no-brainer that frontline workers need all the help they can get to keep their mental health stability in check.
Want to learn how to improve the mental health of a frontline professional and keep them emotionally stable all the time? I got you. Here are some universal tips that can help you boost frontline professionals’ mental health.
Informal team gatherings
While working alongside fellow staff throughout the day may not be a super mental-health-conscious move, informal gatherings are, indeed, a relief for frontline workers. These meetings have to be strictly informal — no tiresome work activities have to be conducted during these.
Professionals can talk about their workday and schedule with their fellows while taking out the pressure of important tasks. They can share their frustration and tiredness, letting them feel fresh and ready to perform at their best once again.
There’s no specific time frame for such a gathering. It can be arranged at any time of the day. However, I’d suggest such an arrangement at either the start of the day or at the end of it.
Actions to cope with stress
If you’re a frontline worker yourself, there are certain actions you can take on your own to deal with the growing levels of stress and pressure. Here are some of those:
- Spend some time of the day looking back at the good stuff you’ve done throughout the day. I’m not suggesting to be arrogant or corny — that’s not cool. However, looking back at some of the great things you’ve achieved throughout the day can help you deal with stress.
- Seek help for the things that you cannot handle. For instance, if you have a blog where you like to express your feelings, but don’t want to be bothered with the technical part, there are marketing experts that can help with it. Consider hiring New Jersey SEO services that will help you develop the best website one can think of.
- Don’t expose yourself to more news and information than you can take positively. While being aware of the circumstances 24/7 could be a good thing, it might be a great idea to stop listening to the news when you think you’ve had enough.
- Take short breaks and live out some happy moments. It might be ideal to take some minutes off the duty and spend them doing something you love. Maybe, call your loved ones?
On-time, friendly meals
While I know frontline professionals’ schedules can be tough and busy, it’s crucial to take meals on time. Lack of nutrition can result in starvation, which further affects a person’s ability to deal with stress and tension.
Arranging scheduled breaks where frontline workers can sit together, relax, and fill up their bellies can help them stay focused and maintain a solid mental state. While eating healthy is great and all, sometimes it might be a good idea to have something fun on the menu.
Stretching breaks
While health workers’ schedules might already be physically intense, stretching breaks where they can release their physical tension can help them stay sharp. Such breaks will let them ease their breathing, release accumulated tension in their muscles and bones, and feel relaxed & ready to work once again.
Such breaks take no longer than 10 minutes and can be arranged at the end of the stay, or in the middle, or even multiple times if the stress levels are higher than normal.
A planned approach towards difficult exams
If you know a fresh frontline worker still studying, it might be a great idea to educate them about important difficult exams they’d have to take (if they don’t know about them already).
For example, nurses have to take and pass the NCLEX RN exam, while physician assistants have to deal with the PANCE exam. They can find resources online and download those study guides online. There are many tools available to unzip files and access all the information that one needs.
Final word
Mental health is crucial for frontline professionals to stay at their best spot and perform their duties effectively. It’s not easy to maintain a stable mental state in such difficult times as a pandemic. The above-mentioned tips can help leaders arrange activities that can mentally help their healthcare staff, while also informing frontline workers about the steps they can take themselves to improve mental health.
