Pressed for Time? Wellness Hacks for Busy Executives
Wellness Hacks for Busy Health Executives.

Leading a public hospital is a demanding role.  Between navigating budgets, managing staff, and ensuring quality care, it is easy for your own wellbeing to fall by the wayside.  Yet, a burnout-out leader risks impacting not just their own health, but also the morale and performance of their entire team.  So, how do you priortise wellness when every minute seems accounted for?

Find the Time

Here’s the realisation, neglecting your wellbeing isn’t a badge of honor.  It is a recipe for disaster.  Just like your hospital needs regular maintenance, so do you.  Here are three important areas to address:

  1. Mindfulness for Mental Balance

    Stress and burnout are constant companions in healthcare leadership, so even small amounts of mindfulness can make a difference.  Start with a five minute breathing exercise during breaks, or consider a mindfulness app for guided meditations.  Research has shown that mindfulness can help to reduce stress levels.

  2. Micro-Movements for Physical Fitness

    We know, fitting in an hour at the gym feels like a luxury.  But remember, even small bursts of activity contribute significantly.  Park further away and walk, take the stairs instead of the elevator, or do five minute bodyweight exercises at your desk.

  3. Nurturing Connections for emotional Strength

    Isolation fuels burnout.  Prioritise connecting with colleagues, friends and family, even if it is just a quick phone call or a shared meal.  Social connections offer support and a sense of belonging.

Embrace the Great Outdoors

 

While mindfulness and micro movements are beneficial tools, sometimes you need a more immersive experience to truly recharge.  There are many options available from camping to jogging, rock climbing for extra strenuous activity, go swimming, bushwalking or power walking.    Spending time in the outdoors for activities you enjoy offer ways to benefit physical and mental wellbeing.
  • Reduces stress and anxiety.  Studies show physical activities promote feelings of calmness and wellbeing
  • Enhanced mood and energy.  Sunshine exposure promotes vitamin D production, which elevates mood and increases energy levels
  • Physical fitness.  Whether hiking, biking or simply walking in the park, outdoor activities provide a dose of physical activity essential for overall health.
  • Improved sleep quality.  Being outdoors during the day helps regulate your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle, leading to better sleep at night.
Pros and Cons

Strengths.  These strategies are time efficient, accessible, and require minimal resources.  Integrating them into your existing routine makes them sustainable in the long run.

Weaknesses:  They might not suit everybody.  They might not offer the same benefits as longer, dedicated practices.  Consistency is key for good results.

Practice Examples:
  • Mindfulness: Download a free meditation app like Headspace or Calm and set a daily reminder for a five-minute session.
  • Micro-Movements: Set a timer for five minutes every hour to do squats, lunges, or stretches. Use online resources for quick workout routines.
  • Connections: Schedule brief weekly check-ins with colleagues, initiate virtual coffee dates with friends, and actively engage in family conversations.
  • Outdoor Activities: Find activities you enjoy, whether it’s a lunchtime walk in a nearby park, a weekend hike in nature, or joining a recreational sports team.

Investing in your own wellbeing is essential.  By prioritising small, achievable actions, will benefit your own resilience.

Resources:

 

Wellness & Healthy Lifestyle Tips with UBIS Health

UBIS Health Jobs

www.ubis.com.au