Monthly health and wellbeing tip

It’s no secret that Queensland’s healthcare workers are playing an integral role in the fight against COVID-19, and it is important that while you are keeping the community safe and healthy, there is also a focus on keeping yourself healthy too. Health and Wellbeing Queensland provide insightful tips and tricks on self-care for our Healthcare workers which the Workplace Relations Team have adapted to this article. 

Regular routine and rest
Having a regular routine can help structure your day if you are being faced with unpredictable schedules. Make time to schedule in regular physical activity and take time out of your day to do something you enjoy for relaxation. 

With sleep and mental health so closely connected, getting regular rest between shifts is essential for your wellbeing. This can be difficult when stress and anxiety levels are heightened whilst working through this pandemic every day. Try adapting the following tips and see if they help make a difference. 

• No screen time in or before bed
• Avoid stimulants like coffee and alcohol at least 4-6 hours before bed
• Develop a bedtime wind down routine. 

As an employer you can also help your staff stay healthy both physically and mentally in the workplace. We have included a few suggestions below that you should consider.

Provide your staff with fresh fruit and other nutritious snacks in their break room. This will help your staff maintain good eating habits and nourish their bodies. Having healthy food options available will help with clear thinking and provide an energy boost if needed throughout their day. 

Friendly competition among staff is a technique that works to boost team morale and positivity. A competition around reaching 10,000 steps each day is a fun way to break up conversations around work while also keeping fit. This method also helps to build connections with one another and find common interests. 

Encouraging your employees to eat outside is another technique to help reduce stress and clear the mind. Studies prove that taking your lunch outside is a natural stress reliever and can lower cortisol levels while increasing job satisfaction at the same time.

If your team has the potential to share workload capacities, this may be something good to consider. Having a full workload can cause stress for individuals and in turn, lower their motivation to work if they feel overwhelmed. It would be worth taking a look at your team, their individual roles and responsibilities and identifying whether work can be shared amongst the group to alleviate the stress an individual may be facing. 

The Workplace Relations Team offers consultancy to assist with these issues. We can cater to tailored training around mental health in the workplace for practice owners. This will help develop a deeper understanding around the importance of this issue. 

Our GPs, specialists and their staff’s mental health and wellbeing are our top priority and we want to help in any way that we can. Get in contact with the Workplace Relations Team on (07) 3872 2222 or email us at workplacerelations@amaq.com.au.