Any medical job you may uphold is going to come with some level of stress. However, working in the Emergency Room holds a particularly high headache probability because of the high paced nature of the work and the variance of tasks involved. It is quite logical for you to lose your mind working there, but before you do that and turn into a patient yourself, try some of the tips below to help yourself stay calm.
1. Stress Ball
A stress ball may seem like it wouldn’t do much for your nerves, but you’d be amazed by the power of a simple squeeze. If there is a particularly irate patient in line, a quick mental picture of squeezing their head via the stress ball could do wonders. This is the adult form of a temper tantrum. Rather than lashing out at someone in line, you can take it all out on the little sand filled ball.
2. Smile
Again, this is something that you might not see much potential in, but smiling throughout the day will in fact keep your spirits up. The truth is that people have a hard time being angry with someone who is smiling, so by putting a grin on your face, you might be eliminating the source of your stress. Take it a step further by getting a joke of the day calendar so you can start off work with a good laugh. That will keep your mind in the positive.
3. Step out when you need to
If you feel like there is just too much going on for you to stand, take a minute to step away from the situation. Sure you might have people screaming at you, but use this time to claim you have to use the restroom. Anything that you can do to remove yourself from the situation will help you clear your head and prepare for the tasks at hand. Even a one minute break might be a reboot that you need.
4. Take one task at a time
A lot of times stress comes from having too much on your plate. You look at one task and can take it on easily, but when it seems like hundreds have piled up, it’s hard to stay calm. Think about things in an organized fashion. Start by taking on either the biggest tasks or the ones of most importance. Then work your way down. Don’t think about what’s happening next. Keeping your mind on just right now will help you stay on track
5. Ask for help when you need it
If you are overwhelmed at work and don’t say anything about it, you are the only cause for your stress. Granted, there is not always something that someone can do about it, but by staying quiet, you aren’t seeking any relief at all. Even if someone just steps in for thirty minutes so you can go chug a Red Bull, it might be enough for you to keep your hair from being yanked out in frustration.
6. Get a massage before work
If you come to work already relaxed, you’ll find it a lot easier to stay calm because you have a good foundation to build from. It’s hard to stay stress free when your body is already tense. Take a hot shower or get a nice massage before you come to work. There should be a ton of spas in your area to go to. Invest some money in their services.
7. Scream!
Okay, let’s clarify this one a bit. Don’t scream at the patients, but do take sex to lash out in a pillow. A quick yell in a sound proof room will do the same basic thing as a stress ball would. By screaming, you can save yourself from going bonkers on the next person in the waiting room. Don’t take anything that someone says to heart, and just release your stress at any time that you can.
Do you work in the ER and have a trick you use to stay calm? Comment below!
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