Research shows that eighty-three percent of Americans suffer from work-related stress.
And that was before COVID. More than half of us experience stress during the day, typically when we’re at our jobs, and women have higher stress levels than men.
So, if you’re a bit overwhelmed at work these days, especially if you’re running a busy Rheumatology practice, you’re not alone. Most people experience stress in the office because of things like:
- Disorganization
- Conflict
- Physical discomfort
- Over-multitasking
Finding ways to keep yourself calm, productive and in control at work allows you to feel organized and able to perform. This article will explore what it means to feel overwhelmed at work and some tips for overcoming this feeling.
Keep a positive attitude.
While some common stressors are beyond your control, others are totally manageable. It’s no small triumph to rise above the sea of office chaos and keep a positive attitude while you’re trying to keep your head above water.
Learn to recognize negative habits and thought patterns and work to stop them when they happen. Learn to manage expectations of yourself and encourage positive thinking.
Make organization a priority.
If feeling overwhelmed at work is the result of disorganization, you can do something about it today. Start by organizing your workspace to feel more comfortable in your surroundings.
There is no better way of starting a new day than by feeling fresh and clutter-free when you get to the office each morning.
Create a to-do list.
Create a to-do list if you’re having trouble organizing, tracking, and prioritizing the many tasks you’re assigned. Use an ole’ fashioned pen and notebook or an app on your computer to list all of your tasks. Writing down your to-do list items helps you remember what duties you need to finish and allows you to sort your responsibilities in order of importance. List the deadline for each as well.
After you complete specific tasks, you can place a checkmark next to each one or cross them out to give yourself a sense of accomplishment and motivation to cross out the next item.
[Need more ideas for feeling great at the office? Click here!]
Prioritize.
Consider automating the busywork, including appointment reminders, patient recall, and patient intake forms.
When you’re not knee-deep in time-consuming tasks, like making phone calls or sending emails, you can focus on bigger things, like improving the patient experience and growing your practice through patient education.
Get zen.
It seems simple enough, but when you’re in the middle of the chaos of managing a busy office, you can forget to focus on breathing. You might be amazed that after taking several slow, deep breaths while counting to five, then releasing your breath for the exact count, you’ll feel calmer physically and mentally.
Multitask less.
We all know that multitasking is an important skill. However, we also know that multitasking causes your brain to switch rapidly between tasks and puts a strain on cognitive resources. In other words, your brain gets tired of doing too many things at once!
So, focus on one activity at a time or one aspect of patient relationship management each hour. That way, you are giving your full attention to that project or patient before moving on to the next or trying to juggle them simultaneously. Less multitasking could lead to more quality work and patient relationships. You will feel more accomplished during the day, and feel less overwhelmed and stressed.
Let patients do some of the work.
That’s right – let patients schedule themselves! If your practice doesn’t yet offer online doctor appointment scheduling, then you haven’t delegated enough repetitive tasks. It takes eight minutes or more to schedule a patient by phone, but only a minute or two for a patient to request a convenient appointment time at your practice.
And don’t worry – you’ll still have complete control over the schedule!
While working in the medical field can be rewarding, it is highly overwhelming and can be demanding. If you are showing signs of being overwhelmed, it’s time to implement some changes. Start by following these tips. After all, you cannot help others if you do not take care of yourself first!
Tags: Healthy hacks, healthy living, healthy living for office managers, healthy practice manager, medical office management, national organization of rheumatology managers, NORM, office management Posted by
