As front-line healthcare professionals, we are all feeling the pressure. We have been trying to balance our professional responsibilities and our personal lives for a long time, but we have never had to do it like this before.
On 30th March 2020, DFTB gathered a panel of experts—all of whom are people I personally love as humans and wellbeing experts. We are honoured that they all said yes and joined our panel. I was lucky enough to join them, too.
We have recorded the session and are delighted to be able to share it here. Please send it to your colleagues and get in touch with any thoughts.
Our three key take-home messages were.
1. Be a boundary ninja
Make sure your time off is really time off – but convey that kindly to your colleagues. You don’t need to be trolling through your Twitter Covid feed in the evening at home. It’s hard to switch off, but we need to try. Like many, I have been dreaming about Covid every night for the last two weeks.
One night last week, I woke up from my dream, coughing in the middle of the night (and I do not have a cough). I’m not usually an anxious person at all, and yet I somatised in my sleep. We are all feeling some anxiety, stress, and worry.
Set some boundaries on how much screen time you have, mute all WhatsApp groups, and stop checking your email when you don’t need to. Importantly, value the time you have with your family—you need to nurture these relationships even more now.
2. Connect, connect, connect
In all the uncertainty, change, and chaos, connection can remain. Connect with your colleagues and make time to connect with your friends. It’s easy to get bogged down in PPE or pathways (of course, these are important), but remember that we are in this together. Whether we live in the UK or Australia, whether we are doctors or cleaners, we are all fearful—for ourselves and our families. Take time to ask your colleagues how they are really doing.
3. Have a quality recharge
Savour the good things, and make sure your downtime is good. Think about the things that nourish you and do them. Knit, dance, sign, build something with Lego, do a jigsaw puzzle. Find whatever will recharge you.
The final practical nugget from Alys Cole-King was to have and store a happy memory. When you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, take a moment to recall it in as much detail as possible. Think about what happened, how it smelled, what you were wearing, and what the weather was like. Bring yourself back there and immerse yourself in it for a moment.
Here’s mine. It’s our first day in Australia after moving from the UK in 2011. We took our (then) two tired, jet-lagged kids straight from the airport to Bondi Beach. I was 26 weeks pregnant with our third child. The wind was blowing, it smelled of Bondi, and possibility lay ahead. The picture is grainy, but my memory of it is crystal clear. Thanks, Alys (and all the panel).
Enjoy watching the session.
Wonderful ?