Opinion: How to stay positive in high-pressure, difficult career

Marlene Chism

There are several things that can cause us to feel overwhelmed at work, especially with the high demands in health care. A lack of stability, the pressure to stay relevant and keep pace with technology, and competition in the marketplace are just a few.

According to the World Economic Forum, the skill you learn today has a shelf life of less than five years, and according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the average time in one job is about four years. Here are four strategies to stay positive even in high pressure or difficult careers like health care.

1. Prioritize rejuvenation. Recognize the symptoms of anger, impatience, irritability, confusion and burnout as a reminder that you need to renew your energy. Sleep is essential for full recovery. Poor sleep increases anxiety and raises the risk of suicidal behavior. Besides getting adequate sleep, human beings need regular breaks from work. Authors Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz write in “The Power of Full Engagement” that “energy is the common denominator in all our lives, and every 90-120 minutes the body craves recovery.”

What to do: First, get your sleep. Next, make a commitment to rejuvenation at least every two hours of the workday. Get fresh air outside, unplug from technology for 15 minutes, meditate or have lunch with a friend.

2. Stop feeding the beast. What you focus on expands. If you’re constantly talking about your terrible boss, your lack of sleep and the difficulties of the job, you’re emphasizing the negative and feeding a beast that can’t be satisfied. Your problems are taking up too much space, and your conversations heighten anxiety in others.

What to do: For one day, stop talking about the problems. This isn’t about sugar-coating or pretending things aren’t difficult when they are. This is a decision about where to direct your energy and attention. If you can’t stop talking about a problem, ask yourself: What is yet to be resolved? You wouldn’t continue talking about your bad boss, an unruly patient, the unfair policy or any other stressor if you knew you had the power to seek resolution. The story that’s been resolved no longer needs to be told.

3. Increase your self-awareness. You can’t fix what you don’t acknowledge, and you can’t acknowledge what you don’t notice. Renowned psychologist Carl Jung said, “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” You may be proud of your work ethic, and brag on never taking a break, but chances are your teammates see your blind spots. You’re too aggressive. You don’t read the room. You’re unfocused, irritable or difficult to work with. You micromanage. These behaviors are rooted in exhaustion and stress.

What to do: Look for the signs that your body and soul need rejuvenation. These signs include yawning, stretching, procrastination, irritability, boredom and low concentration levels. Become aware of your behaviors, language and inner landscape that begs for attention. Don’t wait for the heart attack, the stroke or being fired for being high conflict. Ask for anonymous feedback about how others view your leadership behavior, then connect the dots to how disruptive behavior is tied
to overwork.

4. Set reasonable boundaries. When you’re passionate about your work, as many are in health care, it’s easy to let work consume your life. Physicians are particularly vulnerable to experiencing burnout. Between 300 and 400 physicians in the United States take their own lives annually, according to a Harvard Business Review report, showcasing a suicide rate significantly higher than that of the general population. The suicide rate is 40% higher for men and 130% higher for women in this profession. When work becomes extremely stressful, a boundary can be your greatest tool for regaining control.

What to do: First, do a situation analysis. Determine what’s happening that should not be happening and what’s not happening that should be happening. For example, if you’re always covering for the same person, you probably need to set a boundary. If your open door has become a revolving door, you need to set a boundary around time.

Good boundaries help you take charge of your time and build more equitable relationships.

Marlene Chism is a Springfield-based consultant and author of “From Conflict to Courage: How to Stop Avoiding and Start Leading.” She can be reached at marlene@marlenechism.com.