While there are tremendous upsides to healthcare traveling, one common thread that many cite as a negative is the loneliness that can result from working far away from family and friends. While this is a very real concern for many – especially first-time travelers and those on long-term assignments – there are tools that can be utilized to help with this, namely in the form of social media!
Some studies have shown that social media can increase feelings of depression, envy, and anxiety. However, for those traveling, social media can instead be used positively in order to connect with their loved ones and share their experiences.
So what are some ways to capitalize on these resources and stay positive while in a new place?
CONNECT WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS
There are many people on social media, which can be very overwhelming for someone who wants to connect with exactly who they want. With over 2.38 billion monthly active users on Facebook as of April 2019, (via Zephoria Digital Marketing) getting through that clutter is essential. A helpful option to narrow down your feed is to start from scratch. Make a list of exactly who you want to connect with, and make it happen online! Remember, less friends/followers is not a bad thing – only you know who is truly important to connect with online.
Soon, your feed will be full of family and friends who you can have genuine and meaningful interaction with online.
SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES
Those pictures you’ve been taking of the beach? How about those gorgeous sunsets you’ve been documenting the past week? What about those beautiful mountain views right outside your back window? Those are perfect for social media! Just as you are eager to hear about what is going on back at home, family and friends also look forward to seeing how things are going while you are traveling.
Also, while you are on assignment, don’t forget to share your experiences with your Recruiter or Account Manager! Should you choose to include them on your social media, they can assess your experience, get to know you better, and inevitably place you in the optimal situation should you choose to travel again.
FIND THE RIGHT PLATFORM FOR YOU
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Reddit, Pinterest … you get the point! There are so many platforms out there, and we are often over-saturated with content from all directions. This is where stress starts to pile up. Many studies have concluded that anxiety and depression related to social media are tied directly to the number of accounts a person may have. Therefore, finding the right platform for you online is vital to remaining positive while traveling.
How should you start? Give some of them a try! By now, many of you probably have an account on either Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, or even Twitter, and although there is no rule of thumb for which social media platform will work best for you, it is often a good idea to start where most of your family and/or friends are. After all, interacting with them is the goal of social media!
Once you find a platform that works for you, stick with it. Don’t worry about rushing onto other platforms – you can always create those accounts later!
FIND OUT WHAT’S AROUND YOU
Traveling to a new place can be overwhelming, especially when the job location is unfamiliar. This is one of the areas where social media can be most useful. Using your current location, you can utilize platforms such as Facebook to figure out what is in your area – recreation, restaurants, shopping centers – anything you can think of!
New friends can also be found in the area. Many social media platforms will suggest friends that are in your neck of the woods. Who knows, you could even run into someone you know! Even if you aren’t planning on staying long term, finding others in the area that share similar interests is a good way to integrate yourself into the community.
SEPARATE YOUR PERSONAL LIFE FROM WORK
If you are able to juggle having friends, family, and coworkers all on the same social media platform, congratulations. For the rest of us, a separation has to be established. As a traveling healthcare professional, you are in a unique position to connect with all the people you meet along the way. Just as an Instagram account may work well to connect with family and friends, LinkedIn may be the place to check when you choose to be in “work mode.”
You also have the power to position yourself in order to promote what you are truly passionate about. In growing your social network, it is important to use the tools available to you on social media to check out the content that you specifically want. Muting, unsubscribing, unfollowing, or even blocking can be used to narrow down your feed to see only the content that is important to you.
There are no definitive rules here – just don’t overwhelm yourself!
BE YOURSELF
Don’t try to make up an online “alter ego.” While taking a positive approach to the content you post is always a great idea, you will never be truly happy on social media without being yourself. Connect with friends in a similar way as you would face-to-face. A word of caution here, though: Social media is forever, so make sure to keep things safe for work.
Social media can be daunting to some, especially with the number of platforms available and the complexity that they present. However, with the help of these simple tips, social media can help you overcome potential loneliness, depression, and/or anxiety while traveling. This should help to ease your travel burdens and make the experience worthwhile.
For many, traveling is an exciting experience allowing one to enjoy areas all across the country that would otherwise remain unexplored. With the help of Aureus, these journeys can range from tropical assignments in Hawaii to cozy adventures in Alaska. Whether you prefer bustling cities or open country, there is something exciting for everyone looking to travel.
Logan Skrabal is currently working as intern for the Social Media division of Aureus Medical Group.