Actionable mental health tips for nurses: holiday season edition
With the holiday season in full swing, it’s a time for gathering with friends and family and reveling in the spirit of the holidays. The COVID-19 pandemic will be reaching the 2 year mark in a few months and it has undoubtedly changed everything. Many are torn between making up for lost time with loved ones and being wary of the new variant in our midst. As nurses, these feelings are amplified for us in addition to the very real strain of our work and fighting for safe work conditions.
Healthcare workers are used to working through the holiday season, sometimes skipping holiday dinners or eating way earlier than everyone due to your schedule. This year, it’s more than just FOMO - we are missing out while we watch others celebrate as “normal” despite public health and/or government orders. This means many feelings can bubble up to the surface during this holiday season, especially when it feels like the general population has all but “moved on” from COVID.
The fact of the matter is, our mental health will likely continue to take hits throughout this very busy season. It’s hard to make mental health the priority when the job demands so much of us - but please know you’re not alone! At NurseDeck, our nursing community is everything and we are here to help with some actionable tips for managing your mental health this holiday season.
Control what you can and let go of what you can’t
Take a deep breath… and do what you can to limit your interactions with news and similar media that may exacerbate your feelings of helplessness during the pandemic. Information about the Omicron variant is still coming, and it will likely be a huge topic of conversation in the coming weeks/months. Additionally, you may come across stories of people gathering for the holidays or some statistics that can cause stress and worry (i.e. 6 million people are traveling for the holidays!)
Trust us, we know it can be hard to filter out the noise. It can be even harder to ignore the very real irresponsible actions of others, especially since we will be the ones to clean up the mess and be hit with the chaos and consequences. The reality is that we cannot control the actions of others. We can do our part to inform those around us and those in our community, but if you don’t set boundaries with yourself the stress can hit very hard and be very detrimental to your mental health.
Recreate that “holiday” feeling
Whether or not you’re home for the holidays, you may not be able to experience the full breadth of the festivities. Keep in mind that you may work with nurses or other staff who don’t live near family, those who may miss the festivities and have many other reasons for not being able to celebrate.
Bringing the holiday cheer to work can help lift spirits for yourself and for your nursing family. Speak to HR or similar management about decorating the floor or clinic (within reason) and make an activity out of it! Having something to focus on that isn’t work can boost your mood and provide an opportunity to bond with your coworkers.
Similarly, think of holiday activities that you can bring to work with you! Organizing a gift exchange or potluck can help recreate the feeling of community and gathering that this season brings. If a potluck seems like too much to organize, consider bringing in breakfast treats like coffee and donuts/pastries. Similarly, you can get catered orders of lunch or dinner! Fueling up during this time is important and will help you avoid hunger pains and feeling “hangry” - your coworkers will also appreciate it as well.
Keep in touch with your loved ones
Do you have 5 minutes on your way to work? Do you have a long commute? Use that time to keep in touch with friends, family and loved ones. Send out a quick text or make a quick phone call! Keeping in touch with loved ones might be hard, especially when you may want to be with them rather than working. At the same time, it can provide some comfort and relief. While no one understands nursing like a nurse, your loved ones still know you and sharing a funny story or joke can bring back good feelings and boost your mood even if it’s temporary.
The holidays also don’t have to be lonely! You can come up with creative ways to keep in touch, including Zoom calls and sending some old fashioned greeting cards. Another way to bring your loved ones to your holiday season is by honoring any holiday traditions you might have. Maybe your family watches movies on Christmas morning with hot chocolate, and while you won’t be able to watch a movie a hot chocolate might be an opportunity to remind you of that time and memories. Do you have a favorite holiday meal? Ask family for a to-go meal prep, or for the recipe so that you can recreate your favorite meal at home.
Lean on your Fellow Nurses and Staff
One silver lining of this holiday season is that you are not going through this alone! If you will be working, you will have nurses and staff that you can lean on. No one quite knows what we’re going through like a fellow nurse or healthcare staff, so don’t be shy about leaning on one another for support.
Support can also look like many things! Having a nurse buddy to vent to can make all the difference. Make time for one another, even if it’s a quick 5 minute walk to re-up on some water or coffee. Check in with each other and look out for one another! Be sure to be vocal about your needs. While everyone is firing on all cylinders, you never know who may be able to cover you for a quick breather. Likewise, you can be that relief for someone else!
This time of year is difficult, there is no sugar coating that. However, we hope these actionable tips can provide some comfort and guidance during this time. Be sure to practice what works best for you and prioritize your mental health as much as you can. Taking care of yourself is the greatest gift you can give to yourself and your loved ones this holiday season.