2.3 Adjust own behaviour to contribute to a restful environment

This guide will help you answer 2.3 Adjust own behaviour to contribute to a restful environment.

Creating a restful environment is essential for promoting relaxation, comfort, and ultimately better sleep or rest for individuals in your care. As a care worker, your own behaviour plays a significant role in setting the tone of the environment. Adjusting how you act, speak, and interact within a care setting can make a noticeable difference in promoting calmness and ensuring the individual can rest well.

In this guide, we will look at how your actions and behaviours contribute to this and some of the steps you can take to adjust them effectively.

Understanding the Needs of the Individual

Everyone’s idea of a restful environment is different. What may feel relaxing for one person could be overstimulating or stressful for another. To adjust your behaviour appropriately, you first need to understand what the individual finds restful.

Consider:

• Their preferences for noise levels, lighting, and activity.
• Their bedtime routines or habits.
• Their emotional state and whether they need reassurance or quietness.
• Their cultural, spiritual, or physical comfort needs.

By taking these into account, you’re more likely to create an atmosphere tailored to what they find peaceful.

Keeping a Calm and Gentle Approach

Your tone, voice, and movements can greatly influence the environment. Loud noises or abrupt gestures may heighten stress, while soft, calm behaviour helps foster relaxation.

To promote a restful environment:

• Speak in a soothing and quiet tone of voice.
• Avoid sudden movements or actions that may startle the person.
• Be patient and unhurried in your tasks, creating a sense of calm.
• Use positive and reassuring language to help the individual feel safe and relaxed.

For example, when assisting someone to prepare for bed, use slow, deliberate actions rather than rushing. This conveys that there is plenty of time and minimises feelings of anxiety.

Minimising Noise and Disruption

Noise can disturb rest and make it difficult for individuals to relax. As a care worker, you can reduce unnecessary disruptions through your behaviour and actions.

Steps to support a quieter environment include:

• Avoiding loud conversations or unnecessary noise near the individual’s resting space.
• Turning off or lowering the volume of noisy equipment when appropriate.
• Wearing soft-soled shoes to reduce footsteps.
• Handling objects gently to avoid clattering or banging.
• Suggesting alternatives to noisy activities during rest time.

For example, if you’re working on an evening shift, try to create a quieter atmosphere by encouraging other team members to speak quietly and avoid loud laughter or chatter near rest areas.

Showing Consideration During Tasks

Care tasks, while necessary, can sometimes disrupt the restful environment. For example, turning on bright lights to assist someone or speaking loudly to provide instructions might inadvertently disturb their peace.

Adjusting your behaviour during tasks may involve:

• Using dimmed lights or torches rather than bright overhead lights during night-time tasks.
• Whispering or using quieter communication to avoid waking others.
• Explaining tasks gently and reassuring the person so that they feel relaxed.
• Limiting the duration of tasks where possible, so that you reduce the interruption to rest time.

Maintaining a sense of sensitivity during care activities reassures the individual and keeps the environment peaceful.

Managing Your Own Emotions and Reactions

Your emotional state has a direct impact on the mood of the environment. If you’re stressed, frustrated, or in a rush, this energy may unintentionally affect the individual. At the same time, remaining calm and positive helps set a restful tone that benefits everyone in the space.

To manage your emotions:

• Take deep breaths and remain composed, even in challenging situations.
• Avoid showing frustration or impatience, especially if the individual is resistant to care or in need of extra support.
• Be mindful of your body language, keeping it open, gentle, and non-threatening.
• Ensure you take your own breaks when needed, so you’re better able to approach work calmly and positively.

For example, if a care task is taking longer than planned, stay calm and flexible rather than getting anxious or rushing. Your calmness will encourage the individual to feel more at ease.

Supporting a Low-Stimulation Environment

Sometimes individuals become overstimulated and find it difficult to settle. As a care worker, part of adjusting your behaviour involves reducing the amount of sensory input.

You can contribute to a low-stimulation setting by:

• Keeping lights dim and natural rather than overly bright.
• Avoiding too many simultaneous sounds, such as having a TV and radio on at the same time.
• Encouraging quieter activities, such as reading or listening to soft music, especially in the lead-up to rest times.
• Avoiding unnecessary interactions or conversations that might overstimulate the individual, particularly if they’re already feeling fatigued.

The goal is to create a calm, soothing environment where the individual can feel free from unnecessary distractions.

Encouraging Relaxation Through Interaction

Your role isn’t just about reducing disruptions but also about actively fostering relaxation. Sometimes, individuals may find it hard to settle without encouragement. Your behaviour can ease tension and help guide them into a state of restfulness.

You might do this by:

• Offering to play gentle music or relaxation exercises.
• Providing a comforting, reassuring presence if they feel unsettled or anxious.
• Engaging in calming one-on-one activities, like reading aloud or talking softly about pleasant topics.
• Using therapeutic techniques like hand massages to soothe them or prepare them for relaxation.

For example, a warm chat with a soothing voice before bedtime may help someone feel emotionally comforted and ready to rest.

Respecting Personal Space and Dignity

Restful environments also rely on individuals feeling respected and secure. Intrusions into personal space or actions that disregard their dignity can make someone feel unsafe or agitated. Adjusting how you behave in their space is therefore key.

To respect personal space:

• Always seek the individual’s permission before entering their room or resting space.
• Knock on doors and announce your presence gently rather than entering abruptly.
• Give the individual control over certain settings where possible, e.g., letting them choose lighting levels or whether they’d like windows open or closed.
• Avoid standing too close unless invited or it’s part of the care process.

When individuals feel less invaded, they can settle into their surroundings with greater ease.

Awareness of Environmental Factors

Sometimes your behaviour needs to adapt to suit specific environmental challenges. These could include shared spaces, unfamiliar surroundings, or working in group care settings.

You may need to:

• Avoid loud conversations in areas where others might be resting.
• Be mindful of individuals who may have additional sensory needs, such as those with dementia or autism.
• Supportively mediate between individuals if conflicts arise, helping to calm the situation.
• Collaborate with colleagues to keep group spaces relaxing during rest periods.

Being flexible and observant helps you ensure your actions contribute to a restorative environment for everyone involved.

Collaborating with Colleagues

Care work often involves working as part of a team. The behaviour of colleagues can also impact the environment, so open communication and teamwork help create consistency.

To maintain a restful environment as a team:

• Agree on shared standards for speaking quietly, reducing noise, and respecting rest times.
• Gently remind team members if their behaviour may unintentionally disrupt rest (e.g., loud talking or rushing nearby).
• Share ideas for activities, routines, or approaches that have worked well for individuals in achieving a calm state.

When everyone works together calmly, individuals better benefit from a restful atmosphere.

Final Thoughts

Your behaviour is a key factor in creating surroundings where individuals can truly relax and restore themselves. Small actions, like controlling your voice or gently handling care tasks, can make a significant difference. These adjustments show respect and compassion, promoting better emotional and physical rest for those in your care.

By observing how your own actions shape the environment, you build a more peaceful and healing space for everyone involved.