According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, burnout levels among nurses and physicians have increased from 40.6% in 2019 to 49.2% in 2022. The health of medical workers worldwide is the most significant consideration for providing top-notch patient services.
Healthcare workers are required to function at their highest level of health, both mentally and physically, to achieve optimal outcomes for patients and their families.
In this article, we discover the importance and structure of guided meditation sessions for trauma-burdened healthcare workers.
Importance of Guided Meditation Sessions for Healthcare Workers
As a healthcare worker, you’re required to work long hours, constantly make important decisions, and often carry the emotional burden of caring for your patients. This often leads to issues such as anxiety and burnout.
Mindfulness meditation techniques allow you to escape the overwhelming environment and recharge. Practising regular meditation helps in stress relief for nurses, promotes mental clarity, and increases emotional resilience. Healthcare workers need to remain clear-minded, calm, and compassionate while in their workplace.
Furthermore, guided meditation sessions for trauma healthcare workers have the following benefits:
- Improves concentration and cognitive function
- Avoid burnout
- Promotes better sleep
- Boosts overall health
Integrating stress management techniques into your daily life can help you find strength and balance amidst the busyness of your high-pressure working environment. Additionally, guided meditation sessions can prevent emotional numbness, which is common in healthcare workers who are used to seeing constant suffering in their patients and loved ones.
Structure of a Guided Meditation Session for Trauma-Burdened Healthcare Workers
Guided meditation sessions by Dr Brian Alman are ideal for healthcare workers who prefer structured trauma-healing practices. Dr. Alman’s online stress reduction courses are ideal for nurses looking for virtual learning opportunities to reduce stress.
Let’s dive into the typical structure of a guided meditation session for healthcare workers:
Create a Calming Environment
The first step in a guided mediation session is to create a quiet space that supports your practice. This can be challenging to healthcare workers since they’re always on the move. However, finding a small area in your break room or a corner in your office for meditation is essential.
Ensure the area you choose is free from work-related noise and other distractions. You may light a candle, have something personal nearby, or listen to calming music to make your space more nurturing.
Additionally, you may choose to meditate alongside your colleagues. Encourage fellow healthcare workers to join the meditation session with you for more beneficial outcomes.
Sit Comfortably
After you’ve settled on a calm and quiet space, you’ll need to find a comfortable sitting position which you can maintain for the entire duration of the guided meditation session, which is around ten to 15 minutes. The common sitting position for meditation is crossing your legs and placing your hands on your lap.
If you find this sitting position difficult at first, you can choose one that’s comfortable for you, as long as you don’t slouch. Ensure your back is straight to avoid back pain and help you focus.
Give Yourself a Gift
This meditation technique involves focusing on the present and appreciating its uniqueness and the opportunities it provides. One way of practising this powerful concept is by focusing on your breath.
Breathing exercises are among healthcare workers’ most crucial burnout recovery strategies in stressful environments. This simple but powerful practice helps calm your body and centre your mind. During the guided meditation session by Dr. Alman, close your eyes and focus on your exhales and inhales; pay attention to the feeling of air getting in and leaving your body.
If your thoughts wander, guide them back to the rhythm of your breath gently without judgment. With this breathing technique, you don’t require any special equipment. Also, you can engage in this practice anywhere, including in your car, at home, or in the breakroom.
Focusing on your breath reduces stress, calms your nervous system, and improves emotional regulation. Take your time and breathe slowly without having to force it.
Scan Your Body
The body scanning meditation technique involves focusing on every part of your body and paying attention to how you feel. As a healthcare worker, you spend most of your day on your feet and may accumulate tension in different body parts. Body scanning is one of the most effective healthcare wellness programs, as it helps alleviate mental and physical strain.
You can mix breathing exercises and body scanning by thinking about breathing relaxation in and out of the strained body parts.
Self-reflection
Mindful reflection in a guided meditation session enhances healthcare workers’ professional and personal growth. Reflection acts as a self-help for trauma recovery, especially for burdened healthcare workers. Self-reflection involves acknowledging the suffering and pain that you experience in your workplace and extending compassion to yourself.
If you find it challenging to stay calm during the guided meditation session, allow the feelings of irritation and impatience to take their course and let your mind slowly return to the session. Extend yourself some grace and keep coming back to the guidance. By teaching your body to relax and your mind to focus, you will start feeling the benefits of meditation and be able to stay in the sessions for longer.
Close the Session
During the end of the guided meditation session, breathe deeply and slowly reawaken your mind and body. Bring your attention back to the room by slowly opening your eyes, gently moving your toes and fingers, and engaging in slight stretches. You can end the meditation session with a positive affirmation.
Remember that your profession is vital and impactful, but self-care is equally critical.
Alleviate Work-Related Stress With Guided Meditation Sessions By Dr. Brian Alman
Working in healthcare involves being in emotionally draining and stressful environments daily. Guided meditation sessions for trauma-burdened healthcare workers are essential in improving mental clarity, increasing emotional resilience, and reducing stress.
Dr. Brian Alman, Ph.D., is a qualified facilitator providing unique meditation sessions to help people overcome their stressors and reach their highest potential. He has detailed online stress reduction courses that help you transform your stress into lasting tranquillity.
Contact us today to deal with trauma and stress from your workplace.
