Copyright © 2020, American Psychological Association

While it can feel counterintuitive in such an uncertain and demanding time, health care professionals need to make time for their own coping and self-care. Psychological research has consistently shown that self-care not only benefits people’s health but enables them to carry out their jobs more effectively.

Download and share these free resources designed to help increase health care professionals’ ability to cope in the now and get through the challenges they are facing daily during the COVID-19 pandemic. The information and recommendations are all based in science and packaged to fit into the hectic and fast-paced lives of health care professionals.

Thank you for all the physical and mental strength you have given to help those in need. We hope that these resources replenish some of that strength.

Calm Yourself

Ground Yourself

Relax Yourself

Focus Yourself

Celebrate Yourself

SAMPLE SOCIAL AND NEWSLETTER LANGUAGE

Social

GENERAL

For healthcare workers, it’s more important than ever to take time for self-care. These tips from @APA can help you stay calm and effective on the job. pages.apa.org/healthcare-worker-covid-19-resources

STRATEGY-SPECIFIC

Slowing your breathing allows your body to recalibrate and lowers physiological arousal. This can help healthcare workers reduce stress and improve their overall wellbeing and functioning. Try this breathing exercise to calm yourself: on.apa.org/calm-yourself-video

Stress may cause your thoughts to race. By settling your thoughts, healthcare workers can return to present demands with a greater capacity to analyze situations and make decisions. Try this exercise to focus yourself: on.apa.org/focus-yourself-video

Healthcare workers can hold stress and tension in their bodies, causing them to become irritable or more prone to physical injury on the job. Actively relaxing your muscles can increase your energy and flexibility, and help you feel calmer as you respond to demands. on.apa.org/relax-yourself-video

When we are overwhelmed and stressed, we can disconnect from the world around us. By focusing on their physical surroundings, healthcare workers can make a more balanced assessment of their environment. This grounding exercise can help: on.apa.org/ground-yourself-video

Healthcare workers may feel isolated right now. Reach out for support from colleagues, friends, and family. They may share similar worries and stress with ongoing uncertainty and challenges at work and at home. on.apa.org/celebrate-yourself-video

Newsletter

For healthcare workers, it’s more important than ever to take time for self-care. These tips from the American Psychological Association can help you stay calm and effective on the job. pages.apa.org/healthcare-worker-covid-19-resources

What’s going on right now is a challenge for everyone, but healthcare professionals are particularly overburdened. These science-based strategies from the American Psychological Association can help you take care and be kind to yourself during this difficult time. pages.apa.org/healthcare-worker-covid-19-resources

Feel free to use these messages when sharing these resources with your networks.

With thanks to the psychologists who contributed their expertise and time to conceiving of, developing, and preparing these important resources: Dr. Lynn Bufka, Dr. Zeeshan Butt,  Dr. Helen Coons, Dr. Catherine Grus, Dr. Barbara Keeton, Dr. Susan McDaniels, Dr. Nancy Ruddy, Dr. Jared Skillings, and Dr. Wendy Ward.