Jogan Health provided this article.
“Self-care.” It’s not just a buzzword on Instagram. It’s a crucial part of a happy and healthy lifestyle. And if you’re a travel nurse, you should be practicing self-care for travel nurses.
Learn why self-care is so important, especially for travel nurses, and quick ways you can implement self-care today.
Why Travel Nurses Should Practice Self-Care
Before jumping into what self-care nurses can do to prevent burnout. Let’s discuss why you should take extra care to pamper yourself outside of the workplace.
It’s no secret that nurses work under stressful situations. You only have to look as far as the COVID-19 pandemic to know that nurses are under pressure constantly.
However, aside from the physical demands of the profession, nurses are also “helping professionals.”
Helping professionals have a direct influence on the quality of life of individuals. This intimate contact can be rewarding, especially if you deeply care for others or desire to make a difference. A helping profession can also put nurses and other helping professionals, like doctors and mental health professionals, under a lot of stress because of the responsibility placed upon them.
This great responsibility can lead to compassion fatigue and nurse burnout, an occupational condition that impacts the mental, physical, and emotional state of nurses.
A good self-care routine can stave off nurse burnout and keep helping professionals healthy and happy as they navigate the often stressful environments they work in.
Self-Care For Travel Nurses to Unwind From a Long Shift
Self-care looks a lot different for every individual. Self-care for some nurses may mean a full night of uninterrupted sleep. Other self-care routines for nurses may look like a spa day and shopping therapy. No matter what your preference, all these self-care practices are valid.
That said, the following self-care tips for nurses are meant to be actionable steps you can immediately and build your self-care routine today.
Take a Mental Health Day
If you feel nurse burnout creeping up or are particularly stressed out, it may be time to take a break.
Although commonly mistaken, mental health days are not sick days. You do not need to be physically ill to take a mental health day. On the contrary, mental health days are days where you can psychologically take a break, leaving the stress at work and allowing you to refresh.
Tip: Beat burnout before it’s ever a problem! Scheduling mental health days in advance can help stave off burnout. It can also give you something to look forward to during especially busy times. Don’t wait until you’re dragging to ask for help. Schedule self-care and wellness in your calendar to stay at the top of your game.
Talk to Friends and Family
At the end of a long day, what do you do to unwind? Maybe you workout or lounge on the couch with your favorite sitcom. Consider adding spending time with friends and family to your list of work aftercare.
In “Pulse on the Nation’s Nurses Survey Series: Annual Assessment Survey,” 70% of nurses reported that spending time with their friends and family strengthened their well-being.
The Mayo Clinic reports that spending time with family and friends can increase a sense of belonging and purpose, improves our self-confidence and self-worth, and helps you cope with traumas.
Whether it be to vent after a particularly stressful day or be reminded of all the great things in your life, reach out to your invaluable community to practice self-care.
Eat a Healthy Diet and Drink Enough Water
It may be a simple ask, but let’s get pragmatic: What’s on your plate?
Do you spend the day loading up on goodies from vending machines? Or do you get to the end of the work day dehydrated?
Your nutrition and hydration play a giant role in your overall wellbeing. But, consider this, 75% of individuals are chronically dehydrated, leading to poor mental health, fatigue, and more.
On the flip side, Ppoper nutrition and hydration, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, helps adults:
- Live longer
- Supports muscles
- Boosts immunity
- Maintain digestive system function
- Achieve and maintain a healthy weight
Meal prepping for a long shift with fruits, vegetable, and proteins of your choice can help your physical —and by proxy your mental health — throughout the workday. Likewise, sipping on water throughout the day can support your everyday activity.
Tip: Hydrating does not have to be a chore. Smart water bottles like HidrateSpark integrate with an app, offering recommendations of how much water to drink as well as reminding users when to drink throughout the day.
Conclusion
Helping professionals are uniquely positioned to make a direct impact on other’s lives. But, with great responsibility comes great stress. Get ahead of nurse burnout and practice self-care to maintain your physical, mental, and emotional health.
Did you learn something? Check out the Jogan Health blog to find more nurse lifestyle articles.
Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.
