The life of a paramedic is full of highs and lows. Some days, you will be filled with the exhilaration that comes with saving a patient or dealing with grateful clients, while on others, you will be filled with low moods when a patient passes away or when dealing with a combative client. You need to prepare for how to deal with the adrenaline rushes that come whenever you have a patient as well as understand how to remain serene when performing complex procedures like intubation, explaining procedures to clients and when dealing with angry clients. Simply put, it is important to have ways of dealing with the stresses that arise in this line of work.

As a paramedic, self-care is extremely important to your overall well-being as it will greatly impact how well you do your job. For emergency purposes you can call Team Medic, the premier medical provider specialising in community Event First Aid Cover, Ambulance Service and First Aid Training. Below, we have detailed some of the best ways you can navigate through the daily stresses that are brought about by your job.

1. Take Care of Your Mental and Physical Health

Here are a few tips on how to take care of your mental and physical health …

• Make sure that you exercise for at least 30 minutes each day – Exercise will improve your general health and also help you combat stress, anxiety and depression

• Ensure that you get a good night’s sleep – Ensure that enjoy plenty of sleep each night so that your mind can be able to handle the stress and rigours of each new day. One of the strategies that you can incorporate is working on a regular schedule instead of picking extra shifts whenever they appear

• Eat a varied and highly nutritional diet – Ideally you should speak to a nutritionist or dietician who can advice you on the best ways to get all the essential nutrients that you need into your body whenever you are out on your shifts

2. Know Your Stress Triggers

Being a paramedic is a stressful job – and, everyone deals with stress differently. In order to understand how to deal with stress while at work, you have to first understand the stress triggers in your job. For example, do you get stressed when dealing with angry patients or do you get assuaged with guilt whenever you fail to save a patient? By understanding what will likely make you anxious, you can craft and implement strategies on how to mitigate stress at work. For example, you will understand the situations where you can use techniques such as meditation or deep breaths to lower your stress levels.

3. Balance Your Professional and Personal Life

Many paramedics usually get stressed when they fail to draw boundaries between their personal and professional life. Try and set some time aside for yourself during which you can carry out personal tasks such as replying calls and emails. Guard your personal time jealously and ensure that you try to never mix your personal time and the time you have set aside for work.

4. Connect with Other Professionals

The only people who are best equipped to understand the rigours of working as a paramedic are other paramedics. Though your friends and family will always lend a sympathetic ear, they will never fully understand what you are going through on a daily basis. Forge connections and open up about your experiences with other paramedics. Within a circle of peers, you can decompress without fear of judgement after a hard day at work.

5. Talk to a Professional

Whenever one of the assets that you own starts malfunctioning, you will take it to an expert for diagnosis and maintenance. This is exactly what you should do if you feel stressed, anxious or depressed when working as a paramedic. In this case, try talking to a certified therapist instead of ignoring your mental health. A therapist will be able to offer useful insights on how you can manage job stresses and improve your overall quality of life.

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