Right now, we’re dealing with a crisis that’s affecting the entire globe. Healthcare workers, both those involved in direct care and those working in administration, are clocking more and more hours in the fight to control the virus that has caused a pandemic.

Although there may be a lot of gratitude circulating for health workers during this time, it doesn’t always help to reduce stress and prevent burnout. If you’re working in the healthcare field in an administration role, you may also not have access to the same resources that direct care workers have.

So how can you take care of yourself and protect your own mental health as the COVID-19 hospitalizations continue? Here are some tips.

Make Stress Management & Mental Health a Priority During COVID-19

In order to manage your stress and regulate your mental health as you attempt to stay in control of your workload and your emotions, you need to recognize the toll that the COVID-19 pandemic is probably taking on you. You need to make stress management and mental health a priority right now, even as you work to help others.

Be proactive. Think about the little things that could help you unwind and de-stress. Planning to incorporate exercise, like walking or yoga, into your workday or after work can be a big help. Try to understand what events tend to trigger stress and anxiety at work and at home so you can reduce them or mitigate their impact on you as much as possible.

Stress management involves understanding yourself as well as possible. Try to plan for different scenarios so that you’re not caught by surprise. It’s very easy to get overwhelmed in this situation, which involves so much uncertainty. Learning to deal with your emotions in a healthy way is key to maintaining good mental health throughout the crisis.

Take Time for a Break or to Meditate When Appropriate

If you’ve got a pile of work waiting for you, then you might feel that you never have time to take a break. But if you’re sitting at your desk feeling panicked or overwhelmed, it’s important to learn to step away.

Quick stress-relief strategies can help whether you’re in the office or at home. You can perform breathing exercises, spend a couple of minutes meditating, or practice guided imagery to help you focus on something positive.

Obviously, it’s not always appropriate to take a break. But if you can, you should step away from work at several points during the day. You’ll be calmer (and more productive) if you take care of yourself and give your brain a “vacation” during your workday.

COVID-19 Could Inspire Young Health Leaders to Enter Health Administration 

There’s always a silver lining to challenges if you look hard enough. One potentially positive result of the COVID-19 pandemic could be increased interest in health administration among young people deciding on a career and the need for talented administrators to help improve care for patients.

The good news is that people who are stuck at home don’t have to wait to start exploring their options. An online Masters of Health Administration degree provides the necessary credentials for people who want to enter the field, with no classroom time required. It’s a great time to get into the field as the need for administrators is becoming crystal clear during this crisis.

Focus On Controlling What You Can Control

This pandemic is so terrifying and stressful because not only can we not see our adversary, but we know very little about it or how to control it. As a healthcare administrator, you’re faced with the grim facts every day, but there’s only so much you can control.

For the sake of your own health and well-being, try to focus only on what you can control, not on what you can’t. Accept that there are some things that are out of your control, and find an outlet for expressing your frustrations about this if need be. Journaling or speaking with a mental health professional can be very helpful.

Beyond this, just do the best you can. Remember that in just doing your job, you’re helping those around you get through this crisis. Prioritize your mental health and remember that you’re doing a lot just by continuing to go to work and keeping your organization running in our time of great need.