b'CAREER BUILDING| Your mental health/stress levels should be yourprofessional, as I believe that perfection gen-erally leads to procrastination, which leads top priority as you continue to help others live ato paralysis or inaction. Trust that you are a human being, not a human doing. Also read full and healthy life. Mental health is complicatedbooks that invigorate your intellect, soul and bountiful reserve of humor /perspective. You will need it with the challenges ahead.Thanks and has many areas, but thisarticle shouldfor coming aboard with me on this journey! nprovide you with a usable blueprint for success. Dr. Steve Sobel is a nationally renowned moti-vational speaker, author, humorist, and team-builder. He is a former award-winning school principal who has created a solid and popular TECHNIQUE NUMBER THREE:recipe for impatience, irritability, and poorniche in the world of healthcare as a featured Keep your sense of perspective by tappingrelationships. You can even create yourconference speaker for healthcare profession-into the power of levity/humor. Appropriateown personal affirmations as you lie downals, professional groups and corporations. He humor can be a gigantic force in enhancingat hopefully a regular time each day. Somehas been profiled by INSIDE EDITION and communication with those you treat. You canlike music to accompany this. Also, I am anhas had his work appear in many newspa-share good humor in a professional manneradvocate of napping when you can do it15pers and in the media. He writes articles that and become skilled at it. Often it appearsto 20 minutesshould sufficeafternoonsinspire, humor and creates thoughts where in small talk and well-meaning sarcasm,may work best. Perhaps you have a one-hourhealth care professionals can truly enjoy and depending on the client. I always say evenbreak between clients. Use it! I know ofthrive in their careers and lives. His book The in my seminars to all types of professionalseveral mental health professionals thatGood Times Handbook-Your Guide to Positive groups, take yourself lightly so you can takestep out of their offices and use their carsLiving and an Exciting Life has touched the your job seriously. as their inner sanctums and quiet places. hearts, funny bones and dreams of many. Steve also is passionate about basketball and TECHNIQUE NUMBER FOUR: TECHNIQUE NUMBER SIX:is the head coach of The Springfield SLAMM, Physical exercise can include so many typesNetwork/talk with others in your professiona high-level pro-am summer basketball team. of activities. Activity can move your brainto share stories about what is most challeng- He also teaches courses at the college level and chemicals around, so to speak, and can relaxing. This support network is invaluable. Allgives commencement speeches at high schools you for hours at a time. Stay active regularly,you need are one or two people you enjoyand colleges and leadership presentations at even when you have had a great day. I like toto create your all-sharing team for yourhealthcare retreats and events. His newest pre-also think meditation/yoga are valuable com- own mental health. Many mental healthsentation is titled Life Lessons Learned From ponents to your exercise regimen. Exerciseprofessionals isolate themselves too muchMy Lab(based on Steves life with his chocolate is really a structured form of time out forand think they have to have all the answers.lab Lucy(dog)-now nine months of age) Contact you and you must give it to yourself almostGet inspiration and encouragement regularlySteve at Info@DrSteveSobel.Comdaily. Even 10 quiet, undisturbed minutesfrom colleagues if you can. In person or by of sipping tea or coffee, slowly enjoying thephone/FaceTime also works for many.taste and raising your cup slower than usual works for me! TECHNIQUE NUMBER SEVEN: Continue to invest your time/money on TECHNIQUE NUMBER FIVE: courses or programs that enhance your Get the quality sleep you need! Study afterprofessional skills. The field of mental health study reveals that sleep can restore men- is rapidly changing and you need to surf the tal capabilities and focus. Sleep disorderswave to see what other techniques/ideas among mental health professionals are highermake sense for you and any clients. It also than I would like them to be. However youwill many times serve to let you know you healthfully do it, make this your task! I cancannot control the direction some things create a 10-minute sleep technique CD fortake with clients as we work in an often you if all else fails or perhaps someone youconfusing and unpredictable arena. know can do that. Sleep deprivation is aDo not seek to be the perfect mental health 8 MENTAL HEALTH|2019| www.elitecme.com'