A moment of peace: Utilizing practical on the job relaxation and meditation techniques to improve feelings of stress and burnout among healthcare professionals

Few career paths are as mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausting as a career in healthcare. Due to the nature of the job responsibilities, healthcare professionals often sacrifice their own wellbeing for the sake of their patients. The COVID-19 pandemic has asked an even greater sacrifice from healthcare professionals and continues today with little end in sight. The majority of healthcare workers report that stress has a negative impact on their work, which can ultimately manifest in poor patient outcomes and decreased work satisfaction. As stewards of wellbeing, it is imperative that healthcare professionals prioritize self-care and find their own individualized way(s) to manage stress. Building resilience, which is the ability to adapt to traumatic or adverse events in a positive manner, can help decrease anxiety, depression, and burnout. Resilience also helps healthcare professionals re-establish meaning in both their professional and personal lives, and has been proven to improve patient safety and job satisfaction. Complementary and integrative modalities treat the whole person by focusing on the physical, emotional, social, economic, and spiritual needs of the individual. Techniques such as meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, 4-7-8 breathwork, acupressure, aromatherapy, and Jin Shin Jyutsu have been used with great success in the workplace setting to help build resilience. Such techniques offer options for stress reduction and can decrease feelings of work-related burnout. These techniques can be used in real time at the moment of a stressful event. They may also help reduce stress when used prior to, or at the end of a workday. Consistent practice can reduce the feelings of stress that contribute to compassion fatigue and burnout. These integrative health modalities do not require any additional tools or extensive training. They are easy to learn and perform, and can be easily incorporated into a daily practice to encourage stress reduction and promote wellbeing.