Happy New Year!
The month of December (and January) was a whirlwind and my goal for 2022 is to start sharing my thoughts and writing more consistently. December was a big month - I started a new job, got engaged, and squeezed in some travel (safely) with friends for the new year.
I envisioned starting off 2022 strong with all of these blog posts and it's almost the end of January and that didn't happen and that's ok! I am someone who always writes a to do list and I usually cause myself more stress trying to accomplish everything. While I am pretty sure I'll always be like this, I am also trying to embrace being ok not doing everything all at once or feeling like I constantly need to be doing something. That being said, I do want to commit to writing more frequently.
I want to spend some time in the next few months sharing my experiences starting a new job and how I approach these sorts of transitions, but there's something else that's been on my mind that I want to take with me into this new year and moving forward in general.
At the end of November my fiancé surprised me with a Peloton. I had no idea he was planning this. I wanted one about a year ago and then was worried I wouldn't use it often enough to justify the purchase. But we have one now and it's amazing. Working out has always been an outlet for me and how I work through the thoughts racing in my mind. As someone who always had an after-work routine of going to the gym at least a few days a week, this has been a game-changer.
I'm bringing this up because one of the trainers (Callie Gullickson) has been repeating a mantra in her classes - BYOE: Bring Your Own Energy.
I've been thinking about this mantra a lot since first hearing it a few weeks ago and it really resonated with me - Bring Your Own Energy. When I think of healthcare workers right now (and people in general), almost everyone feels tired and burnt out. Even as a healthcare worker not on the frontlines, but still in the hospital and around outpatient clinics all day, it feels like COVID is never-ending and the recent Omicron surge tested everyone yet again. Testing guidelines are constantly changing, tests are difficult to find, staff are out sick, people just want to get back to normal and travel and see friends and family and not have to worry every time someone coughs or sneezes near them. It is a lot to process if I let myself think about everything we have experienced over the last two years.
But when I am working out, or doing something I love, my mindset changes. Bring Your Own Energy is the idea that you have the power to change your mindset; you have the power to bring your own energy and positive attitude to any experience. When I do this, really consciously make an effort to do this, my attitude and mindset improve. When I walk into the hospital, I usually do this without realizing it (even when I don't feel like it!) and now I have a name for it.
As a leader, it is imperative to show up with that energy and to set the example for those around you. It doesn't mean everything is great all the time or that you are not paying attention to the challenges staff are facing right now, but it does mean that we can still bring this positive energy to the hospital, to the staff, and to our patients. Our mission is still to care for patients - first and foremost. That is why we are here and why we chose to work in healthcare. Earlier in the pandemic I saw a sign that was posted outside of the hospital at Indiana University Health - it said something along the lines of: check the energy you are bringing into the hospital each day, take a deep breath, and think about the purpose of why you are here. In my opinion, this also goes along with the meme circulating on social media that says "the whole world is short staffed, be kind to those that showed up."
I interpret this to essentially check your negative feelings at the door - that you are the energy you bring into this setting and you have the power to change it. This may look different for everyone - it may depend on what inspires and motivates you - what brings you back to the purpose of why you work where you do each and every day. But even in the hardest times, and especially as a leader, I am committing to bringing my own energy to all aspects of my life. Even when I don't want to, I will try to smile, get out and walk around, say hi to someone in the hallway - it makes all the difference and changes my perspective and my attitude. So this is what I'll be repeating to myself moving forward - BYOE!