Living on the Edge – 6 Realistic Self-Care Tips for Firefighters
Some job roles are inherently stressful, and firefighting is one of them. In fact, working as a firefighter is like living on the edge because you endanger your life every day.
Besides the physical perils of dangerous situations, as a firefighter, you may constantly deal with the fear of failure. Likewise, you could feel stressed about not doing enough for your loved ones. But the satisfaction of saving lives makes it worthwhile.
As a firefighter, investing in self-care can help you cope with the downsides and experience the joy of doing your best in this noble role. Moreover, you deserve it more than anyone else because of the stressful nature of work.
But since firefighting is a very demanding job, you may fall short of time and energy to pay attention to your health. In this post, we shall share a few realistic self-care tips firefighters can embrace regardless of daily challenges.
Realistic Self-Care Tips for Firefighters
- Stick with the basics
Sticking with the basics of a healthy diet and regular exercise is an excellent start for firefighters living on the edge.
Be aware of your dietary choices because you need to think beyond getting enough nutrition to stay energetic and strong. Ditching food culprits such as sugar, salt, caffeine, and alcohol is equally crucial.
Outdoor exercise is also an excellent self-care strategy for firefighters because it strengthens the lungs and boosts mental well-being. These basics help you stay nimble and maintain an ideal weight, and both are critical to giving your best at work.
- Prioritize sleep
Firefighters often suffer from sleep deprivation because of the nature of their work. Imagine getting an emergency call during off days or after work hours. You cannot ditch your responsibility in such situations.
Professionals in this field tend to become hyper-alert, and even the smallest sound disrupts their sleep. But getting enough sleep is vital for firefighters because poor concentration can cause mishaps during emergencies.
Therefore, you must prioritize catching up on sleep when possible. Nonetheless, avoid taking sleeping pills, and use natural remedies like herbal teas and aromatherapy to work on sleep deprivation.
- Learn to cope with fear
Firefighters are perhaps the bravest people, but they face the fear of life-threatening situations.
Besides worrying about fire injuries, you may also worry about illness due to long-term exposure to firefighting foam. However, learning to cope with fear is the only way to stay sane and strong in this profession.
Being alert and following the safety rules can help you deal with fire risks. Also, knowing that you can take AFFF legal action against firefighting foam gives you peace of mind. These lawsuits can help you claim compensation for exposure-related illnesses, which are statistically common in the job role.
- Diversify your lifestyle
Another surefire self-care tip firefighters can consider embracing is to diversify their lifestyle.
Find interests beyond the fire service to get an outlet for work stress and trauma. Gardening, writing, reading, and learning a new language are ideal options. Activities like yoga and meditation help with stress management.
You could also consider volunteer work as it helps you gain peace and happiness. As much as possible, try group activities because they help you create valuable social connections, which are often missing in a firefighter’s life.
- Invest in family bonding
The family seldom takes precedence when one is in a demanding profession. Your work commitments and unpredictable hours can take a toll on family time. Therefore, investing in family bonding is a form of self-care you should not miss out on as a firefighter.
Spending quality time with your loved ones is a great way to nourish your relationships. You can plan weekend outings or a yearly trip with your loved ones to retain the joy of being a clan.
Discuss your fears with your partner, and let the kids be a part of these conversations when they are old enough to provide opinions and support.
You need your family just as much as they need you. So, ensure they are among your top priorities in life.
READ ALSO: 5 Best Types of Support We Need in Life (+ Why a Support System Is Important)
- Find a mentor or counselor
Working as a firefighter is taxing, physically and emotionally. As part of your self-care strategy, you should learn to accept the need for help and be open to asking for it. You are human, and it is okay not to be okay sometimes.
You can find a mentor or see a counselor to talk about your emotions and apprehension. In fact, it is easy to discuss them with someone outside the family because you do not want to make your loved ones anxious about your situation.
Find someone you can trust enough to open up about your deepest feelings. Besides listening to you, they can also offer valuable insights on dealing with your emotions.
Final Words
Self-care is essential for firefighters because they handle more than work stress. Missing out on it is not an option if you want to be healthy and sane. But you need not do a lot to cover all fronts of wellness. Follow these simple tips, and you are good to go.
This is a contributed post.
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