If you haven’t looked for a job in a while, here’s a fact that you may have forgotten; job hunting is stressful. This is true even in the healthcare field, where the demand for qualified workers far exceeds the supply of available talent. This is a hard fact to consider, especially if you’re looking for a new role because your prior job was so stressful. Looking for a new job can heighten the stress you might be under and increase any feelings of burnout you might have. Fortunately, we have some tips for reducing the stress of your job search and can even help you find your next opportunity.
Breathe
Nurses are terrible at self-help. One of the best things you can do to alleviate stress is to think about your breathing, meditate, and center yourself. If you’re in the middle of a triage or other crisis, we guarantee the last thing you notice is how shallowly you’re breathing. But you’ve likely read the studies on the value of controlled breathing and mindfulness as techniques to lessen our stress. While you may not be skilled enough at the moment to take deep breaths during a code, you can use this technique to lessen your stress as you’re searching for a job. Make it your goal to find a good app that will help track your daily activities and offers breathing exercise to help you cope in the moment of your stress.
Exercise
Walking the floor and making rounds can feel like a lot of exercise, and it can be. But it isn’t the same kind of exercise as swimming or taking a yoga class. While keeping a regular exercise schedule after a long hospital shift can feel almost impossible, you already understand the importance of taking the time for yourself and your health. In fact, you probably lectured a patient today on this very thing. Even 10-minutes before you go to sleep is better than nothing, or even taking half of your lunch break to go outside and walk around will help you refocus and lessen your stress. If you’re working in an environment where you barely have time for lunch, that’s just validation that a job search is the right thing for your health.
Ponder
Searching for a new job is a good time to remember why you choose this field. Most people become healthcare providers because they’re passionate about helping people. The problem when you’re in a job that’s not the right fit is that you can lose sight of why you pursued this career to begin with. There are rewards in the healthcare field that extend well beyond a paycheck. Use your job search to ponder and renew your sense of commitment to the field that originally inspired you.
Lessen Stress by Doing Something That Makes You Happy
Many times we can feel trapped by our jobs and commitments. But the healthcare field is ripe with new opportunities that can help you return to a career path that makes you happy. While we know the job search can feel overwhelming and stressful, committing to pursuing a new career can feel like the fresh start you needed to feel happy again.
MAS Medical is committed to helping you find the right professional home. Talk to our team today.
