Using mindfulness to curb health care worker burnout

Mindfulness is a form of meditation that can help to reduce stress and anxiety. It can be practised in a variety of ways, but typically involves focusing on the present moment and observing one's thoughts and feelings without judgement.

There is growing evidence that mindfulness can be beneficial for mental health, and it is effective in reducing symptoms of burnout among healthcare workers. Healthcare practitioners are subjected to pervasive stress as well as a perfectionist work culture. Therefore, for them to adequately care for their patients, they need tools to assist them to find a balance between work and rest. A recent study found that mindfulness was associated with decreased levels of burnout and increased levels of job satisfaction among nurses. This is due to mindfulness meditation having the ability to lower stress and burnout in healthcare workers by increasing resilience, compassion and the ability to regulate their emotions after incredibly demanding days at work. 

If you are experiencing symptoms of burnout, or if you are simply looking for a way to reduce stress and improve your mental health, mindfulness may be a good option for you. So how can you use mindfulness to reduce burnout among healthcare workers? Well, there are several different mindfulness-based interventions that you can try. Some examples include Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). There are many different ways to practise mindfulness, and one of those natural therapies is Float Therapy.

Float Therapy is designed in the hope to induce mindfulness and send your body into a meditative state. Sensory deprivation, or restricted environmental stimulation therapy, such as that offered by floating, allows your body and mind to recover from the stresses of the outside world. Stress is fundamentally a reaction to your surroundings, so by removing external pressures and floating in 400kg of Epsom salt, your body can enter a restorative state. Cortisol levels are said to drop by about 20% during a float session, along with changes in adrenaline levels, dopamine levels, and beta-endorphin release. Amazing effects from this rebalance include eliminating brain fog, enhancing sleep, increasing focus, and even easing chronic pain.

If you're interested in trying out a mindfulness-based intervention, be sure to do your research and find one that's right for you. There are many different programs available, and not all of them will be appropriate for everyone. However, you can rest assured that Float Therapy is a natural and holistic therapy that can encourage mindfulness and help you curb burnout. 

REFERENCES: 

Green AA, Kinchen EV. The Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Stress and Burnout in Nurses. J Holist Nurs. 2021 Dec;39(4):356-368. doi: 10.1177/08980101211015818. Epub 2021 May 17. PMID: 33998935.