Increasing psychological flexibility – doing something different

Reflective pause

How psychologically flexible am I in adapting to changing circumstances, managing stress, and embracing new perspectives?

Psychological flexibility is crucial for fostering resilience and a learning mindset in challenging working environments. It involves adjusting our mental resources and behaviours to adapt to changing situations. This adaptability enables us to balanceour competing needs and life domains while remaining committed to our goals and values. Research shows that health and social care practitioners who are more psychologically flexible are less vulnerable to work-related stress and burnout (Kinman et al., 2020; Jimenez-Fernandez et al., 2022).

Psychological flexibility also enhances creative problem-solving by encouraging us to think about tasks in innovative ways. By breaking habits and changing unproductive behaviours, we can not only reduce stress but also increase feelings of happiness and control. Small actions can disrupt routines and lead to behavioural changes, giving us the confidence to tackle new challenges. For example, simply having lunch in a different location can clear our mind and encourage reflection.

By incorporating small changes into daily routines and reflecting on outcomes, we can break habits and encourage a more flexible outlook. Maintaining these changes can give us the confidence to take on new challenges. When choosing a new course of action in your personal life, remember that using a different skill set from the one you use at work can be particularly effective. This approach will help replenish your mental and physical resources. Some suggestions for change are:

• Do a course on something unrelated to your work.

• Start a blog. 

• Join a choir.

• Change the furniture around in your office or your home.

• Learn another language.

• Take up a new sport.

• Learn a musical instrument or create something artistic.

• Join a book club.

• Plant a garden.

• Write a short story or a poem.

• Learn a new craft.