How to Deal with Stress in a New Overseas Working Environment

Working as a foreign healthcare professionals in a new job can be stressful, but even more daunting when it is in a new country. If you haven’t already, odds are you will deal with stress in the new work environment. Stress can cause significant health consequences so it’s important you find ways to deal with a stressful work environment as a foreign healthcare professionals in a new country. Here is our list of 10 ways to deal with the stress in a new working environment as a foreign Healthcare Professional.

10 Ways to Deal with Stress in a New Overseas Working Environment

1. Start Your Day off Right

If you start your day off right, you may find stress of the workplace rolling off your back. Get up early, having a nutritious meal, some exercise, put a smile on your face and a positive attitude, and giving yourself time to get early to work.

2. Get Enough Sleep

This goes hand and hand with starting your day off right. No matter your schedule, getting enough sleep will help you deal with stress when working in a new environment. Try exercising after work and meditation to calm the nerves and a glass of warm milk to ensuring you have a good night sleep.

3. Open Communication

When you can share your emotions at work and vis versa, stress levels can decrease. Open communication can be between you and another nurse or with you and your patients. Regardless of who you’re having a conversation with, open communication leads to fewer misunderstandings and less stress.

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4. Eat Healthy & Exercise

Eating healthy foods and finding time to exercise will help you be better prepared when dealing with a stressful work environment as a travel nurse. If you need help eating healthy, check out our list of 10 healthy meal planning tips for travel nurses. Your exercise doesn’t have to be anything extreme. Even just a quick walk around the complex will give you time to relax.

5. Take A Deep Breath

Clearing your head by taking a deep breath can help you deal with stress. After dealing with a stressful situation or if you feel yourself getting stressed, find a quiet place and take a deep breath.

6. Remember It’s Not Personal

As a travel nurse, you aren’t the only ones dealing with stress at the work place. Patients and their families are also stressed. When faced with a tense patient or family situation, stay calm and try to keep your body language relaxed. If needed, seek advice of the charge nurse when dealing with a stressful environment.

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7. Find A Mentor

Having a mentor, someone you can go to, is always a good thing to have. A mentor can offer advice and even just be someone to talk to when you need to vent. Mentors can ease stress and teach you ways to deal with a stressful work environment as a travel nurse.

8. Take Time to Relax

It is critical that you disconnect from time to time. Take a mini vacation during your assignment. Find time to get away. This will allow you to “recharge” your battery and come back stress free.

9. Track Your Stress

Sometimes if you know what triggers your stress, you can stop it before it gets bigger. Record your thoughts, feelings, and information about your environment. When you feel stress levels rising, go for a walk. Talk to your mentor. Take a deep breath. Whatever works for you at the time, do it when you sense yourself getting stressed.

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10. Take Time off Between Assignments

If you find yourself working multiple assignments in consecutive weeks, perhaps it’s time to take time off. It doesn’t have to be a month-long getaway. Even just a nice week where you can unplug and explore will allow you feeling refreshed.

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