Practice self-compassion. Patient care demands are increasing, supplies are limited, meetings are being canceled, personal & professional travel is on-hold, and you’re practicing agility to accommodate learners through virtual means. Yes, things are not going to all go as planned. No, they are not your fault. Practice tactics to ease and restore health, such as the three good things exercise or meditation.
Reassess expectations. This is closely related to self-compassion. Remember the first time you tried to ride a bicycle or speak a new language? Most likely you hit some bumps along the way. If this is your first unexpected event – and it’s a first pandemic for most of us – you will flex those quality improvement muscles. Plan – Do – Study – Act. Evaluate what changes work & what needs refinement. Don’t forget to celebrate and share the positive improvements.
Assemble your team. Make sure you have the right people on the team to help you do your job in this quickly changing environment. Team-based health care has been linked to improved patient outcomes and may be a way to improve clinician well-being.
Make a plan. Determine what will work best for environment, which may or may not incorporate remote work. First time working remotely? Check out recommendations from ASHP Section of Pharmacy Informatics & Technology members. Constant communication about today’s plan – and tomorrow’s plan – are crucial during an evolving situation, such as COVID-19.
Stay connected. It’s important to stay connected with colleagues, family, and friends during this time. Our healthcare workforce was already at risk for burnout and negative well-being before COVID-19. Employ strategies that follow current social distancing recommendations to stay connected. Share ideas or ask questions to assist your team and your organization through our newest ASHP COVID-19 Connect Community.
Limit your news consumption. Now more than ever, it is easy to be in-front of a screen 24/7. Yes, certain are important for public safety and well-being. There is a lot of information coming through various news sources and social media. Consult the frequently updated ASHP COVID-19 Resource Center for the newest updates and practice resources.
Take a break. Identify opportunities to limit screen-time or take a five-minute break to close your eyes and breath. You were not super-human yesterday. This is a marathon; try to limit the sprints.
Practice healthy habits. Remember that 2020 resolution your identified on January 1st? Don’t forget to take a walk, stay hydrated, exercise through a free livestream class online, and wash your hands for 20 seconds. We are all in this together – why not practice our health habits together?
Q&A From Midyear 2020