Many of us experience on a subjective level the way that different times of year can influence our mood. Spring is full of optimism. Summer feels like it is made of energy and life. Fall feels comforting—possibly transitional.
Winter? Dark. Cold. Depressing. Why do so many people feel this way, and how can it influence the lives of healthcare workers who are on the brink of burnout even during the best of circumstances?
Higher rates of burnout increase healthcare turnover and leave people feeling bad. Is there anything that can be done to fix the problem?
In this article, we will explore a scientific view of how winter can increase healthcare worker demand, while simultaneously fueling burnout.
Does the Winter Create Higher Healthcare Worker Demand?
Winter conditions do create a higher demand for healthcare workers for several reasons. The most prominent of these is seasonal illness. Colds, the flu, Covid, and other viruses tend to circulate much more vigorously during the cold months.
There is also a higher risk of physical injury. People slipping and falling on ice, etc.
These conditions can create extra stress on healthcare workers during a time of year when they are the least equipped to handle it. Healthcare leaders who want to help their team navigate seasonal demand increases should recognize the entire scope of the problem. Burnout during the winter owes to both internal and external factors that are equally impactful.
Is the Winter Harder on Healthcare Workers’ Mental Health?
Dr. Yolanda M. VanRiel, RN Associate Professor and Department Chair of Nursing at North Carolina Central University says that it is.
Dr. VanRiel says, “Shorter winter days affect healthcare workers’ mental health, specifically regarding seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Less sunlight exposure can disrupt circadian rhythms and reduce serotonin levels leading to feelings of depression and fatigue. A reduced amount of sunlight also can lead to changes in sleep patterns, which may further impair mood and cognitive function.”
They go on to say that winter conditions can create difficult subjective experiences for healthcare workers as well. People who work in hospitals often report feelings of social isolation even during the other nine months of the year. Their schedules are intensive and irregular, sometimes making it hard to sync up with other people in their support system.
Dr. VanRiel says that the shorter days and colder weather of winter can limit social interactions even further while making outdoor experiences few and far between.
Dr. Eugene Lucas, an associate professor and coordinator of the distance education Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program at Wilkes University adds that pre-existing factors weigh heavily into individual experiences.
“Emotional stress on the job causes an increase in depressive symptoms,” Dr. Lucas says. “Stressful events such as Covid-19 resulted in an increase in depressive symptoms in the winter months due to severity of the disease, unknown effective treatments, and long hours of work. There is a vulnerability to SAD which encompasses being female, living in the northern United States, and having a family history of mental health issues.”
Naturally, feelings of seasonally induced depression can make an already very difficult job that much harder. Healthcare workers experience burnout at much higher rates than other professionals even when SAD isn’t factored into the equation.
Both professors agree that managing symptoms is an important aspect of staying healthy during the winter.
How can healthcare workers fight back against Seasonal Affective Disorder?
First, it’s important to understand that the burden of responsibility cannot fall only on the healthcare workers themselves. Breathing exercises and mindfulness activities can soothe symptoms of anxiety and seasonal depression, but they don’t solve the larger problem.
Dr. Van Reil says that how and when healthcare workers do their shifts could be influential. “To address mental health resources, employers can provide access to counseling services and employee assistance programs to manage stress and feelings of isolation. A novel approach to manage burnout and SAD is to implement flexible work hours to allow employees to take advantage of daylight hours, and promote better work-life balance and mental well-being. If flexible work hours are not possible, encourage employees to take regular breaks during shifts to reduce stress.”
These small moments of stepping back, though not always possible in the hospital setting, can be influential. Just by giving healthcare workers the opportunity to regroup, hospitals can do a lot to help them navigate difficult feelings, and resist burnout.
Dr. Lucas adds that there are activities healthcare workers can participate in to help alleviate stress on their own time. “Workers need physical exercise, yoga, meditation, mindfulness practice, and interacting frequently with friends and family. Isolation and use of alcohol have been found to be negative factors in dealing with stress and burnout related to the shorter days.”
The Biological Value of Light
All of that said, daylight has a biological value that no amount of yoga can replace. The less time people spend outside, the less access they have to the health benefits of sunlight. During the dark and gloomy days of winter, it can be difficult to give the human body what it needs to succeed.
Marcia L. Verduin, M.D. is the Associate Dean of Students and Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Central Florida emphasizes the importance of healthcare workers seeking treatments that align with their physical needs along with their mental.
“SAD with a winter onset is typically managed with light therapy (using a specialized light box) and/or vitamin D. These are treatments that you should receive under a doctor’s care, though, as both light therapy and vitamin D can be harmful if used incorrectly,” Dr. Verduin says.
Dr. Verduin also emphasizes that daily habits can play a big part in shaping your personal experience. She recommends:
- making sure to get enough sleep,
- mindful eating/good nutrition,
- being present at the moment,
- journaling or meditating,
- deep breathing exercises,
- engaging in spiritual practices (e.g., prayer, worship),
- exercise (even if just taking a 10-minute walk outside),
- connecting with others, and
- making time for a hobby.
Hobbies are no substitution for mental health services, but they can be a good supplementary way to improve overall well-being and ride out the difficult winter months.
Conclusion
Healthcare workers—and, for that matter, anyway experiencing SAD—can soothe their symptoms of depression and anxiety through a series of well-chosen and carefully executed steps. Still, they need support.
Employers are best positioned to provide that help through a well-developed set of employee services. Mental health support systems and conscientious scheduling practices can go a long way toward diminishing the impact of seasonal affective disorder, reducing burnout, and helping people feel their best during a time of year when that doesn’t always come easy.
Disclaimer
The information contained in South Florida Reporter is for general information purposes only.
The South Florida Reporter assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in the contents of the Service.
In no event shall the South Florida Reporter be liable for any special, direct, indirect, consequential, or incidental damages or any damages whatsoever, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other tort, arising out of or in connection with the use of the Service or the contents of the Service. The Company reserves the right to make additions, deletions, or modifications to the contents of the Service at any time without prior notice.
The Company does not warrant that the Service is free of viruses or other harmful components
