How to Create A Successful Year As A Travel Therapist

Creating both professional and personal goals for the New Year is a great way to set you up for success. As the year gets underway, prioritizing those goals can become a bit tricky but certainly not impossible. Maintain the momentum of your new year’s goals with this list of some helpful tips and tricks. 

Attitude Is Everything

Studies have shown the impact that having a positive outlook can have on overall health. Benefits of positive thinking can include increased life span, lower rates of depression and better cardiovascular health. With a career path that includes constant adjustment and adaption, practicing a positive mindset is a key in maintaining a successful experience as a travel therapist. Here are a few great ways to implement positive thinking on your assignments. 

Start Your Day Off On The Right Foot

What strengthens your attitude when you wake up in the morning? Perhaps it’s enjoying your morning cup of joe or taking an early morning jog. Make time for the things that put you in a good mood to start off your day in a positive way. As a therapist, interacting with patients is essential. Be sure to take on your day in a positive way and maybe even share the positivity along the way!

Smile

Studies found that the simple act of smiling can help to reduce heart rate as well as blood pressure in stressful situations. Try getting ahead of the game and practice smiling daily. Look up some silly memes or a good joke to keep you giggling throughout your day.  

Adjust Your Perspective

Perspective is a powerful tool when it comes to maintaining a positive attitude. Situations throughout your day can serve as great practice to adjusting your mindset. For example, if you find yourself stuck in traffic on your way to your assignment, take this as an opportunity to listen to a podcast or sing to music you enjoy. How can you practice turning negative situations into positive outcomes? 

Prioritize Self-Care

Self-care looks different for everyone but the importance of practicing it is the same for us all. With constant to-do lists and a jam-packed scheduled, self-care tends to take the backseat in terms of priorities. It should in fact be one of our top-list items given the impact that it has on our mental, emotional and physical well-being. Self-care is an intentional activity that we participate in because it contributes to overall mental, emotional and physical health. As a travel therapist, it’s especially important to make sure that you’re practicing self-care to avoid burnout. Here are some self-care ideas that you can practice on any assignment:

• Exercise
• Go to bed early
• Unplug from social media
• Spend time outside
• Read a book
• Enjoy a night in
• Try a new recipe
• Walk around a local museum
• Enjoy coffee at your favorite cafe
• Take a yoga class

Take Continuing Education Courses

It’s never too late to learn a new skill. Continuing education is a great opportunity to stay up to date with industry trends, advance in your career, improve your job performance and increase creativity/innovation. The more unique skills you acquire, the more you’ll stand out to employers as you advance in your career. It will also show your passion and dedication to moving forward in your career path. 

Outside of the professional sphere, taking classes to learn a new hobby or interest is just as important. This can help you to maintain a work-life balance by providing an outlet for you to focus on something you enjoy doing for fun. You can even apply this as a self-care item as you explore the various hobbies available. 

Plan Ahead

Set yourself up for success by planning ahead to create well-balanced and achievable goals for your day. Implement time to review your to-do list and make a plan to conquer the day! Bring structure to your day and reduce anxiety by creating lists to help organize and prioritize your to-dos. Prioritizing your day leads to an actionable plan and ultimately creates space to successfully achieve what you need to accomplish. 

Ready to apply for your next travel position? Search our available job positions and get started on your next adventure!