Fusion Medical Staffing provided this article.
We all need an extra energy boost now and then, especially travel nurses like you who work odd hours and shifts. When the days are long, and the naps are short, how do you prevent your battery from crashing?
When it comes down to it, there are two main ways to elevate your energy: through healthy and unhealthy ways. We’re all familiar with each — from caffeine and energy drinks to power naps and exercise, we’re better at some than others. So, let’s break down different energy boosters to get a better look at how to boost your energy at work.
Pro Tips for Energy Boosts While at Work as a Travel Nurse:
1. Avoid abusing common stimulants
Coffee
It’s true that a good cup of Joe has a myriad of health benefits like decreased chances of heart and liver failure. But in excess, the health perks cancel out, and since the average American drinks just over three cups of coffee per day, most of us aren’t getting those advantages or at least not for prolonged periods.
Instead of relying on coffee to maintain energy levels, limit your mugs and make sure you’re consuming less than 400mg of caffeine a day, which is the maximum amount the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends before it’s dangerous to your health.
Energy drinks
Monster, Red Bull, Rockstar — oh my. While energy drinks may advertise that they increase your energy levels, the truth is they only help you feel more alert for the first 15 to 45 minutes after finishing, with the possibility of a sugar crash in as little as one hour later.
If you just love the flavor or feeling energy drinks give you, limit yourself to 16 ounces a day and avoid all other caffeinated beverages to reduce potential harm. For more health-conscious options, opt for low- or no-sugar versions of your favorite energy drinks.
2. Opt for healthy ways to maintain energy at work
Eat for fuel
Think of healthy foods and snacks as the gas that keeps your motor going. The more foods you eat that are good for you, such as those with low glycemic indexes, high magnesium, high vitamin B-12, and less absorbed sugars, the better you’ll feel.
When you’re working a long travel nursing shift, stock up on lots of whole grains and healthy oils, plus high-fiber, high-protein, and high-magnesium foods to help give you a natural energy boost. Next time you need to enhance your energy levels swap that sweet candy bar for a nutty granola bar or some yogurt with berries.
Get your body moving
Whether you’re engaging in stretches or running on a treadmill, regular exercise gives your cells more energy to burn, more oxygen to circulate, and produces more dopamine for an added boost in mood. It can feel counterintuitive because when you’re tired, the last thing you may want to do is be active, but studies show that a 10-minute brisk walk increases energy with effects lasting up to two hours long.
Schedule your sleep
The National Sleep Foundation recommends healthy adults sleep seven to nine hours a night. If you find that’s not conducive to your work schedule, try a power nap when you can! You spend all day diagnosing and treating patients — that information overload can zap brain energy in no time, leaving you feeling lethargic and sloth-like. National Institutes of Mental Health studies show regular breaks to take a brief power nap can reverse the mind-numbing effects of information overload and can also help you retain what you’ve learned. Additionally, getting the right amount of sleep for your body and mind can help increase work-life balance.
Stay hydrated
Water may not be the most fun or flavorful drink out there, but it sure is good for you. Drinking adequate amounts of water significantly affects energy levels and brain function, prevents headaches, and aids in weight loss. When your body isn’t sufficiently hydrated, you’re likely to feel achy, lethargic, and lightheadedness, none of which are things registered nurses need.
Phone a friend
People need other people, especially as we get older. Turns out, social isolation can cause low moods and tiredness, as well as heighten the risk of depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, heart disease, and more. So, when you’re feeling down, phone a friend or family member, or reach out to your travel nursing recruiter! The important thing is to find someone to talk to or sit in silence with.
You only have so much time between patients and travel nursing assignments. Next time you feel low energy, focus on these pro tips to maintain your energy levels during work as a travel nurse. That way, you can provide exceptional patient care wherever your adventure takes you.
We hope you found this article on pro tips for energy boosts while at work as a travel nurse helpful. How do you get energy boosts while at work as a travel nurse? Comment all your energy boost tips below.
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