August 19, 2021 – Burnout amongst doctors and nurses is becoming an all-too-common reality for the United States healthcare system, as the COVID-19 Delta variant continues to sweep through the country. The healthcare system is facing devastating challenges that are disrupting patient care and exhausting already scarce resources.
What can sales representatives and distributors do to encourage their customers to practice self-care?
- Checking in
Healthcare professionals are facing a crisis with the COVID-19 Delta variant. As positive cases continue to climb while bed numbers dwindle, it’s more important than ever to ensure that you are reaching out to your customers and contacts in the industry to ensure that they are doing ok. Check in on your people to see how you and your organization can provide support. Whether it’s business or personal, it’s important to remind our healthcare workers that we support and value everything they do. - Implement better sleep habits
Sleep is a gift because it allows our bodies to rest and reset at the end of the day. After long, difficult shifts in the healthcare system, our healthcare professionals need to implement better sleep habits to ensure that they are prepared for any of the situations they will face on the job. Do you have a sleep system that works for you? It never hurts to recommend a personal process that improves the quality and duration of sleep. - Encourage exercise and healthy eating
Exercise and healthy eating are some of the foundational aspects of self-care. Encourage your clients to use exercise and healthy eating as an outlet to take better care of themselves during a time when we need them most of all. This could be as simple as sharing recipes for healthy food with your clients or even starting a workout accountability partnership to encourage each other. - Listen and validate
Sometimes, people just need to be heard and understood. If you don’t know exactly what your customers are struggling with, set aside some time to get a better understanding of their situation. Even if they aren’t interested in discussing it, letting them know that you are here to listen is a huge step in the right direction. Remember that empathy costs nothing. - Connect with kindness
Never underestimate the power of kindness. In times like these, it can be really easy for people to feel alone, forgotten, and lost in the crowd. A simple act of kindness can be the nurturing touch that a lot of us need right now. Remind your clients they are not alone by doing something as simple as sending flowers, a Starbucks gift card, or even lunch for the team. This personal touch is a great way to deepen the relationship between you and your clients.