Healthy Mind, Healthy Life!

Healthy Mind, Healthy Life!

Healthy Mind, Healthy Life!

As healthcare heroes, you often find yourself meeting patients on some of their worst days. With lives on the line, you’re forced to rise above a stressful environment to give your all to care for your patients. Undoubtedly, this can take a toll on your mental wellbeing.

With Mental Health Day this week, we’re sharing some practical tips and talking all things mental health on the blog today so you can continue to care for yourself while caring for others ❤︎

mental health quote encouraging you to take care of your mind

The Importance of Mental Wellbeing

Just as you care for your physical wellbeing, taking care of your emotional and psychological wellbeing is a necessity for safeguarding your overall health. A good mental health state can allow you to face the inevitable stresses and challenges of life effectively, while also embracing the many joys life has to offer.

The way you feel, think and act are all affected by your mental health. The good news is there are plenty of simple steps you can implement to take a proactive approach to safeguarding your mental wellbeing.

Relationships, family, financial circumstances, work life, physical health, community — these all factor in and can influence your mental health. Taking stock of what’s having a positive vs. negative influence can be a great starting point to assessing where changes need to be made, as well as identifying sources of strength and support for your mental wellbeing.

Ways to Take Care of Your Mental Health

Find purpose and a sense of meaning in your life. This will be different for each person, but finding purpose and meaning in your day has been shown to be a significant factor leading to a positive mental health state. You can achieve this by:

  • Engaging in work that has an impact on others and makes a difference (Yay, as a healthcare superhero you’re already doing this!)
  • Invest in your relationships and spend quality time with the people in your life who matter most
  • Find ways to give back to the community - volunteering, fund-raising, mentoring can all be great!

Practice self-care. It’s okay to be selfish and put yourself first sometimes. Set aside some dedicated time each day to do something just for you! This can be as simple as diving into a good book, going for a walk, having an at-home spa day with your favorite face mask, or spending time binging your favorite tv show. Treat self-care as a priority rather than a luxury. As simple as it sounds, doing things that make you happy will improve your mental health.

Investing in your relationships with others allows you to find a sense of belonging, connection and creates a strong support system you can lean on when times get tough. Schedule in those coffee dates, FaceTime the friend who lives out of town, spend time with family — take the time to cultivate your relationships.

Your spiritual wellbeing. Studies have show that a lifestyle adopting religion or spirituality in some sense generally leads to a healthier lifestyle. Nurture your spiritual wellbeing in whatever way feels right for you. Be it through religion, meditation, or another spiritual activity, finding ways to dive into a deeper sense of self, meaning, understanding or connection to the universe can lead to improved mental health.

It can sometimes be hard to manage the stress and your mental wellbeing by yourself, particularly when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Talk to your support system and don’t be afraid to seek professional help if and when you need it. There are also plenty of online resources that can provide guidance. A great starting point can be found on Canada's Mental Health and Wellness resource page: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/topics/mental-health-wellness.html

Thoughts From The Rhino Community

We asked our Rhino community on social media this week to share practices that have worked well for them in safeguarding their mental wellbeing while working in healthcare. Some said spending time in the mountains for a change in perspective, others processed their feelings and thoughts through journaling, spent time with pets, dedicated time to their hobbies, while others regularly went to therapy.

Have you found any ways to foster positive mental health in your daily life? Let us know!

Working in healthcare can be as rewarding and fulfilling as it is challenging. Take care of your mental health, just as you would your physical health, and the patients whose lives you brighten each day!