Today’s healthcare workers are struggling. It is inarguably one of the most difficult times to be in the field right now. The one thing that remains consistently clear, though, is that they are passionate about what they do. Having passion in your work is vitally important to your success from both a personal and professional standpoint. Here are some of the benefits of working in a field that you are passionate about. As a reminder, all photos were taken before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Better Overall Mental Health
You know the old adage that you spend a majority of your life at work. Spending that much time in a place that you have no sense of passion for can be very draining on your mental health. Healthcare workers, such as senior living staff, usually get the bulk of their job satisfaction from the passion they have for helping others. According to a study done by Pioneer Pacific College, “Healthcare can be a very rewarding field. It can also be physically and mentally challenging. When you feel strongly about the importance of the work you do to help others, it will be easier for you to stay positive and focused.”
Increased Productivity
If you don’t want to do the work, you aren’t going to be motivated to be productive. Who wants to be productive doing something that they don’t want to do? However, in various assisted living and memory care communities, the most productive people are the ones who have the most passion for what they are doing. Wisestep notes that, “If you want to taste the flavor of success in your career then you have to be passionate about your work…. If you love your job, then you will not experience stress or strain in doing it.”
Instills Stronger Feelings of Accomplishment
When you do a good job at something you don’t care about, it doesn’t instill the same feelings of accomplishment you feel when you do a good job at something you’re passionate about. In fact, Biospace discusses that, “Employees who are passionate about what they do will be both happier and more productive at work. Their passion stems from caring deeply about what they do or where they work and being personally invested in and motivated by its mission.” Being passionate about your field, like many healthcare workers are, has huge benefits for how much accomplishment you will feel completing your job. That’s a very valuable asset and should not be taken lightly.
Improved Relationships In and Out of Work
No one likes to be around inherently negative people. Working forty hours per week at a place that you don’t enjoy will inevitably make you a more negative person than you usually are. That can affect your relationships both in and outside of the workplace. Huffington Post claims that, “One of the worst things about hating your job, is that it doesn’t stop at the end of the work day. For many people it spills over and affects their whole life.” There’s more to a job than just a paycheck. Having a sense of passion in your career, such as those who work in senior living have, is arguably much more important.
At Spring Hills Senior Communities, we are honored to call our associates true heroes every single day. Our Assistant Administrator, Alechia Charlton, put it best when she said, “Being able to provide support, comfort and motivation to our Associates, Families and Residents is the ultimate gratification.” To learn more about our company, contact one of our local communities.