The simple step to overcoming overwhelm.

Let’s face it, there are some components of the work that kind of suck. Some of the annoyances are just a part of the job, like doing the notes, and some are a culmination of feelings more so than specific tasks.

These feelings of overwhelm come from a combination of the duties, the time management, your own physical and emotional fatigue, the patients who are struggling, the system you work in (with its own set of requirements and expectations), and the stress of your coworkers. 

And that doesn’t account for any stress outside of work.

It can be a lot.

So how do we keep doing it? How do we stay engaged and not bitter, energetic and not exhausted?

We have to anchor into the vision. (Don’t worry, this isn’t going down some woo woo, dancing in the moonlight road. Although feel free if that’s your thing).

Why are you a nurse? Why do you want to care for other people? Why is it important to provide care? Why does caring for people impact them? Why does it impact you? 

If we help other people, we improve the collective good. The purpose, the cause, is bigger than us.  We make a difference in their lives, and we feel that difference in our own. 

Anchoring into this purpose is what will lift the overwhelm from us.

We have optimism that every patient can be helped in some capacity. There isn’t anyone in this world that we can’t help in some way. 

When we focus on this, it builds desire to do the work and desire dispels the need to hustle, to work as fast as possible, to just get through. Desire to care for people helps us settle down and move with purpose, not stress. We create desire by reminding ourselves of why we do the work.

When we get stuck in the “what “of what needs to be done, when we lose sight of the vision, we feel flat, overwhelmed, tired, irritable. And it’s understandable that we end up here since what needs to be done is always really obvious, there’s always something to be done.  But if we can take a minute to intentionally remember “why”, we can feel the physical weight being lifted from our shoulders. 

As you try this, you will see success, and this can inspire the nurses around you. 

We need to talk about the vision, not just the stressors. We need to talk about the people we help, the difference that it makes in their lives and in the lives of all they touch.

What a gift it is to be able to impact the world in a tangible way. 

What a gift that we don’t have to go looking for our purpose.

What a gift to be able to learn this skill at work, then we can apply it to all the other parts of our lives.

Remember why you do the work you do, it will never steer you wrong.

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If you feel beaten up by your job, if you need someone to help you recover and come up with a way to continue to thrive while doing this work, reach out and let's schedule a time to talk about 1:1 coaching. I’m ready when you are. Megan@NursingBeyondTheJob.com