By Miles Oliver

July 8, 2024

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Cultivating a Balanced Lifestyle for Traveling Nurses

Working as a travel nurse is a gratifying career, but it can also be quite demanding. While you do great work, you mustn’t overdo it. Instead, you need to balance your life and take a holistic approach to wellness that considers your body and mind. Below, you will find 3 wellness tips for travel nurses to help you cultivate a balanced lifestyle.

Wellness Tips for Travel Nurses

Wellness Tips for Travel Nurses

Eliminating Stress Is Essential

Travel nursing is a great field, and you’re likely proud of the work you do, but caring only for others and never for yourself can wreak havoc on your life and health. Plus, you could lose the passion you once had, and your career could be cut short.

There are ways to reduce stress, but doing so will require some changes. Start by ensuring that you get enough sleep. It can be challenging during a long shift, but you must set boundaries and a schedule and ask that your supervisors honor it. Try to get at least seven hours of sleep. Make it a point to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day to maintain your circadian rhythm.

Remember to take breaks throughout the day to catch your breath. If you’re still stressed at the end of the day, write your feelings in a journal so they’re out of your system and don’t disrupt your sleep.

Find Ways To Balance Hobbies

As a travel nurse, you also need to have a balanced lifestyle so you can enjoy the hobbies you love the most. Whether it’s gardening, puzzles, reading the newspaper, or playing a sport, doing what makes you happy when you get the chance will help you feel better overall. Finding harmony between work and fun is essential so you have something to look forward to, and your daily schedule isn’t quite as taxing.

You may believe that you don’t have any time for fun, but that’s not the case. You just need to have a plan for balancing your work and hobbies. One way is to schedule time for your leisurely pursuits. Set a reminder on your phone or make it a point to do what you love and tell your job that you’re unavailable during that time. You could also try to combine hobbies with other activities. So, if you like to ride your bike, consider riding it to work. On the way home, ride on a trail through the park.

Wellness Tips for Travel Nurses

Traveling a lot may also make it difficult to have typical hobbies, but you should know that there are many hobbies you can do on the go. Your hobby could be taking pictures at different places or collecting items at each stop, like postcards or magnets. If you’re visiting a new culture, your hobby could also be learning a new language.

Take Care Of Your Physical Health

Your hobbies will help keep your mind in check, but you must also balance your life and make time to care for your physical well-being. For starters, drinking enough water during the day is crucial because water will give you energy while also helping to fight off headaches and fatigue. You can be sure you get enough water by carrying around a water bottle so you can drink throughout the day.

You also need to take your breaks and have lunch each day, and you need to choose healthy foods. Choosing fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and milk products is a good idea here.

Having a solid self-care routine is also a good way to take care of yourself while prioritizing your physical health. As a travel nurse, you may want to opt for a simple Japanese skincare routine that combines lightweight cleansers and moisturizers with techniques like patting and massaging to increase blood flow to the surface of your skin. Since this type of skincare emphasizes using higher quality products over high quantities of products, it’s also perfect for nurses on the go.

Conclusion

While you may be a travel nurse who’s constantly on the go, you still need to take time to create a healthy balance in your life. Consider these wellness tips for travel nurses, and you’ll be happier and healthier overall.

We hope you found this article on wellness tips for travel nurses helpful. Do you have any wellness tips for travel nurses you would like to share? Please comment them below.

Find Your Next Travel Nurse Assignment with Our Job Board!

Are you on the hunt for your next travel nurse gig? Look no further than our job board! Click here to explore all our current opportunities.

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Need somewhere to stay on your next travel nurse assignment? We’ve got you covered. Check out our housing page to find your ideal home away from home. Click here to start your search.

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February 15, 2024

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Fitness Tips for After the Holidays: Back to Travel and Staying Healthy

The holiday season is a delightful time filled with family gatherings, gift exchanges, and indulgent feasts. It’s easy to let healthy habits slip during this festive period, but as a travel nurse, maintaining your physical and mental well-being is crucial. Here are some fitness tips to help you get back into travel and stay healthy after the holidays.

Fitness tips for after the holidays:

fitness tips

1. Set Realistic Goals

Starting your fitness journey after the holidays can be overwhelming if you set unrealistic expectations. Instead, set realistic and achievable goals for yourself. Whether it’s losing a few pounds, increasing your daily steps, or improving your strength, establish goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). These goals will guide you in creating effective strategies to reach your desired fitness level.

2. Plan and Prioritize Exercise

As a travel nurse, your schedule may be demanding, but prioritizing exercise is essential for your physical and mental well-being. Plan your workouts in advance, considering your work schedule and personal commitments. Find a consistent time slot that works for you and stick to it. Booking exercise into your schedule ensures that you make time for it and increases the likelihood of follow-through. Remember, even small bursts of physical activity throughout the day can make a significant difference.

3. Incorporate HIIT Workouts

fitness

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workouts are efficient and effective for travel nurses who may have limited time for exercise. HIIT workouts involve short bursts of intense exercise followed by brief periods of rest or active recovery. These workouts elevate your heart rate and burn calories effectively in a shorter amount of time. Look for HIIT workouts online or download fitness apps that offer pre-designed HIIT routines. Incorporating these workouts into your fitness routine can help you maximize your exercise time.

4. Embrace Mobility and Stretching

Being constantly on the move as a travel nurse can take a toll on your body. Prioritize mobility exercises and stretching to improve flexibility and reduce the risk of injury. Dedicate a few minutes each day to perform dynamic stretches and mobility exercises that target different muscle groups. Not only will this help you stay injury-free, but it will also improve your overall range of motion and make your daily activities more comfortable.

5. Practice Self-Care and Mindfulness

Physical fitness is not only about exercise and nutrition. Taking care of your mental well-being is equally important. Set aside time each day for self-care activities that help you relax and unwind. This could include meditation, deep breathing exercises, journaling, listening to calming music, or engaging in a hobby you enjoy. Building these moments of mindfulness into your routine will help reduce stress and improve your overall well-being.

Remember, your fitness journey is unique, and it’s essential to listen to your body and adjust your routine as needed. As a travel nurse, you have the opportunity to inspire and motivate others to prioritize their health and well-being, too. By incorporating these travel nurse fitness tips into your routine after the holidays, you’ll bounce back, stay healthy, and continue thriving in your nursing career. 

Interested in a travel nursing job? Our job board is a great place to search for assignments, and if housing is an issue, our housing page can help. It’s time to make a difference!

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By Miles Oliver

November 25, 2023

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Taking Care of Your Health While on the Move as a Travel Nurse

As a travel nurse, you’re doing fantastic work caring for patients worldwide. However, the issue can sometimes be that you’re so concerned with helping others that you forget to care for your own health. To provide the best care, you need to be physically and mentally healthy, and these tips can help you along your journey.

your health

Be Ready For Anything

Like any other traveler, you never know when you’ll come down with an illness or get sick, so you must be proactive. Knowing that anything can happen, you should be prepared and have a plan of action.

Start by obtaining travel medical insurance, which will help to reimburse the costs you’d pay if you’re injured in an area that is out-of-network for your typical medical insurance. Having it means you can get care without delay. Remember that travel insurance supplements your health insurance, so ensure you have both. Travel insurance can cover broken bones, heart attacks, emergency transport, and more, so don’t leave home without it.

There’s also the possibility that you may not need emergency care, but you still need to speak to a doctor who’s more knowledgeable about your particular condition. In that case, virtual healthcare via an online consultation can be the answer while you’re on the road. Many different health conditions can be treated by an online doctor. For instance, patients can explain their cold and flu symptoms, and the doctor can offer advice or prescribe medication. Online doctors can also assist with hearing aids and vision care as they conduct tests through the computer. Mental health counselors can also listen and dish out advice online.

your health

While online doctors can do a lot, it’s still worth it to keep up with your regular checkups before your trip so you’re in as good of shape as possible.

Avoid Unnecessary Strain

The best way to avoid a physical injury during your travels is to be cautious about everything you do to avoid unnecessary sprains and pain. You can prevent injuries by staying sharp and being aware of your environment. Use ramps and carriers to get into buildings whenever possible, especially when carrying supplies. Also, try to use rolling suitcases and luggage to avoid bending over and hurting your back.

Remember that you can tweak your muscles or trip and fall even if you aren’t carrying supplies. That’s why you need to be proactive and take care of yourself. When you start each day, take the time to stretch your arms, legs, and torso. Hold each position for about 10-30 seconds. Also, don’t forget to drink water throughout the day. In addition to staying hydrated, water helps keep the joints lubricated and supports your muscle function.

When you’re moving your materials and equipment from place to place, it’s essential to avoid common injuries that are easy to forget. Bend with your knees instead of your back, and if necessary, invest in a back brace or a set of knee braces if you know you’ll do a lot of lifting. You can also avoid dropping things on your toes by wearing closed-toed shoes.

Don’t Forget Your Mental Health

If you’re like many nurses, you may get stressed or anxious when caring for patients during a busy schedule. That’s why caring for your mental health along the way is essential. Start by setting up a daily self-care ritual like writing in a journal or spending the morning walking through nature. This is a time to sort through your thoughts and begin a mental refresh.

Your diet can also impact your mental health, so remember you are what you eat. It can be tough to try to fit in a meal during a busy shift, but try to avoid seemingly quick solutions. Eating fast food and trans fats will make you feel sluggish both physically and mentally. Instead, bring along fruit, nuts, and proteins that will provide energy and help you stay focused.

The final key to staying healthy while traveling is to get enough sleep. This is especially important when you’re flying on planes and crossing time zones because it can wreak havoc on your circadian rhythm. When you don’t get enough sleep, you wake up feeling exhausted, and your mind could be foggy, which won’t help you work to the best of your abilities. Get enough sleep so you can refresh your mind and take on each new day.

Life as a traveling nurse can be enriching, but your career should be cut short if you don’t care for yourself. Maintain your mental and physical health, and you’ll feel better and be the best nurse you can be.

Interested in a travel nursing job? Our job board is a great place to search for assignments, and if housing is an issue, our housing page can help. It’s time to make a difference!

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By Lina Belegu

October 1, 2022

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The Advantages of a Healthy Lifestyle You Should Know

Get this. Adults in America only make up 13% of those with healthy metabolisms. Thirteen percent only!

Your body’s capacity to maintain appropriate triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, blood pressure, and waist circumference is called metabolic health. Your overall health may be measured using all of these statistics. Your general health will be improved the better these figures are. It must not be beneficial to make an effort to get there if there are so few individuals who are healthy, right? If not, everyone would be performing it! Not so. A healthy lifestyle has many advantages, and incorporating healthy behaviors doesn’t have to be difficult.

Here are the best lifestyle changes you can make, along with their advantages and what you can do right away to put them into practice.

The Advantages of a Healthy Lifestyle You Should Know

1. Eat wholesome foods

Although this information is not brand-new, it is nevertheless essential to developing a healthy lifestyle. Almost nothing you accomplish will matter if you don’t eat well. Fueling your body with clean energy is the key to building a healthy lifestyle.

Your diet won’t change overnight. However, you may choose better options. Get rid of junk food first, or at the very least hide it away in a difficult-to-reach place.

You’ll be more inclined to snack on nutritious foods like fruits and veggies if you arrange them in areas that are simple to access. Spend some time each week preparing vegetables, so they are simple to eat alone or to add to a recipe.

Find fresh things you enjoy eating and attempt a new healthy meal every week. It takes time to change your diet, but you’re preparing yourself for a better life every time you opt for health.

2. Every Day, Move

This also isn’t surprising. You’re aware that you should work out more. What then is stopping you?

But the cool part is right here. You may reap the rewards of increased exercise without going to the gym. The healthiest people exercise often throughout the day, not just at the gym.

Begin by just moving more. Every hour, set your phone to remind you to get up for three minutes or so. During lunch, go for a stroll—park towards the rear of the lot. Consistently use the stairs.

But you should also discover a type of exercise you enjoy. Although cardio and weightlifting are important, exercise shouldn’t seem like a hassle. If you like yoga, dancing, soccer, rock climbing, or anything else that gets you moving, go for it!

Additionally, you’ll feel better about yourself, look better, and be more active for longer. Even sadness and anxiety symptoms can be reduced with regular exercise.


3. Schedule Your Sleeping Time Regularly

A crucial component of maintaining good health is getting enough sleep. You would awaken and go to bed in accordance with the cycle of the sun. Even if your lifestyle prevents that, you should still establish a consistent bedtime and wake-up time that you adhere to daily.

Draw attention to the issues preventing you from sleeping well. If you’re not comfortable, get a better mattress or bed sheets, or get blackout curtains if the light keeps you up at night. To sleep better, turn on pink or white noise.

Establish a bedtime regimen that will allow your thoughts to rest. Include activities that help your brain relax, such as keeping a journal or putting up a lavender-scented diffuser.

Additionally, it’s a good idea to stop using technology an hour before bedtime and stop eating three hours before.

You may increase your attention throughout the day and wake up with more energy if you follow a regular sleep schedule. Additionally, it enhances cognition and reduces inflammation in the body to keep you healthy. Even weight loss is possible with it.

4. Consume A Lot of Water

You’re doing it wrong if you’re drinking your calories. Your main beverage should be water; you should get all your calories from whole foods.

Get a favorite water bottle and start taking it everywhere. Get an infuser and add cucumbers, mint, strawberries, or lemon to your water if you don’t like the flavor of it to make it more enjoyable.

Just having water handy might frequently encourage you to drink more. Additionally, you may set triggers throughout the day, like right after waking up or right before a meal, to remind you to drink.

5. Manage Your Life’s Stress

You do well with a little stress or a little stress in brief spurts. Chronic stress can cause serious damage. It causes ulcers, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, and headaches.

Thus, maintaining a healthy lifestyle requires understanding how to manage stress.

The two greatest DIY methods for managing stress are often journaling and meditation. Finding a confidant, whether it be a close friend, a member of your family, or a therapist, is also a good idea.

It’s a good idea to make time in your life for enjoyment and relaxation. Think about relaxing activities like yoga, painting, hiking, or other hobbies.

6. Create a Powerful Social Circle

To maintain a healthy lifestyle, more than just taking care of your body is required. Building a solid social network is the greatest approach to feeding your soul, which is something you also need to accomplish.

Spend time with your loved ones, community, and friends. Reestablish contact with someone you haven’t spoken to in a while, or sign up for a new organization or club. Try to schedule frequent brunch or coffee dates with friends so that you may get to know your neighbors.

Having dependable relationships in your life might help you overcome sadness and loneliness. These folks can push you to live your best life and can help you get through difficult situations.

7. Avoid skipping doctor’s appointments

Make sure you go to the dentist and doctor as regularly as advised. ‘Early detection is the key to curing most fatal diseases, and these diseases can’t be discovered early if you never attend the doctor,’ claims the dentist in Scottsdale.

Make sure you have a future visit with a doctor booked. Regularly see the eye doctor, dentist, and doctor. Make an appointment now if you haven’t in a while.

A Healthy Lifestyle Is Worth It Despite the Work Required to Achieve It
Living a healthy lifestyle has several advantages. Even while getting there requires effort, the foundations are simple to comprehend and put into practice. The benefits outweigh the work required to develop healthy behaviors.

So, use this advice to live a healthy lifestyle and take pleasure in living your best life.

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.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By Gifted Healthcare

August 4, 2022

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National Wellness Month: Wellness Tips for Every Travel Nurse

Gifted Healthcare provided this article.

Your overall wellness is important to help you live a higher quality of life, and as a travel nurse, this becomes even more of a priority while on assignment.

Everything we do, from work to bedtime routines, and every emotion we feel throughout the days contribute to our overall well-being. It is this same well-being that directly affects human actions and emotions, so the cycle all ties into one another. Prioritizing your overall wellness will help manage stress, reduce the risk of illness and aid positive interactions and feelings throughout your life.

Wellness is determined by a variety of categories, including environmental, mental, physical, social, spiritual, financial, intellectual, and occupational. We are diving into some of these categories and focusing on how you can enhance your wellness as a travel nurse.

Environmental Wellness

As a travel nurse, your environment is changing regularly, and as exciting as a new environment is, it is also a shift in your routines and alters your atmosphere. As you prepare for a new travel contract, you can prioritize your wellness in prep for the transition. 

Pack Extra Days for Your Move

Include extra days in your moving timeline leading up to your first shift, so you have plenty of time to make your new place feel like home. An unpacked and organized environment benefits your environmental wellness and will help you feel prepared for your new assignment.

Create Space for You

While unpacking, try to set up a spot in your home where you can retreat after work. Maybe it’s an outdoor oasis with twinkle lights or a comfy chair and blanket set up by a window for a reading nook. Whatever helps you decompress, prioritize that area of your space because a pleasant and stimulating environment supports your well-being.

Explore Your New Neighborhood

Extra time will also give you a chance to adjust to your new community. Explore your coffee shop options, find a local park, or map out your commute to get a feel for your surroundings. Having these little familiarities will make a huge difference as you transition to a new assignment.

Another big environment that is changing is your work environment. Give yourself a little grace as you adjust to navigating the floor, locating the nurses’ station, or getting lost looking for the bathroom.  These are all things that come with time.

job board

Mental Wellness

Your mental and emotional wellness has a large impact on your overall attitude and outlook toward life. This is a huge factor in your overall wellness and can ebb and flow over time.  Your mental wellness will help you cope effectively, establish a positive self-regard, and create satisfying relationships in your day-to-day. Here are some tips to help your mental wellness while traveling.

Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a type of meditation in which you focus on being intensely aware of what you’re sensing and feeling in the moment, without interpretation or judgment. There are a variety of ways to practice it, so start with some trial and error to see what works best for your body and mind.

If your brain is busy planning, problem-solving, daydreaming, or thinking negative thoughts, you can feel drained. It also adds levels of stress, anxiety, and symptoms of depression to your day. Take time each day to practice mindfulness exercises such as meditation, breathing, guided imagery, and more to relax your mind and body.

Check out these five simple practices for daily life to get started.

Self-Care Days

Along the lines of mindfulness, a self-care day can go a long way in easing your chaotic thoughts. Set aside time on a day off to go on a long walk, listen to a relaxing podcast, pamper yourself, or anything else that helps ease your mind and allow you to recover. Even if it is just 30 minutes you set aside, this will help chip away at the stress our bodies build up over time.

Talk It Out

In a world where virtual therapy is more commonly accessible, take advantage of it. Through the ups and downs of your personal life, shift experiences, and travel schedule, a therapist, is a great outlet to put yourself first and prioritize your needs. Don’t let your mental wellness get lost in the shuffle of your other priorities.

If a therapist is not available, rely on your loved ones for a little bit of time here and there to let your feelings out.

Physical Wellness

Physical wellness is not just about working out; it is about your body’s need for physical activity, healthy nutrition, and sleep. While adjusting to your new travel assignment, start to navigate your workout, eating, and sleep routines so you can feel balanced during the transition.

Find Your Workout Spot

Research local gyms and fitness studios near your house or hospital, depending on what time of day you prefer to move. Many studios offer a first-class free or some type of trial period membership, so don’t limit yourself to places you recognize from other cities. There might be a workout that is brand new to you and ends up being your favorite way to work out!

You also shouldn’t limit yourself just to the gym. Venture around the area and look for local trails to hike, parks for running and walking, or outdoor excursions to try for a change of scenery.

Eat Local, Cook at Home

A huge perk of travel nursing is exploring parts of the country you might have never been to before, and with that comes local produce and food. Hit up farmer’s markets to experience local vendors and culinary items that the town or state is known for.

Pack a cookbook with you and use your new favorite farmer’s market items to make some home-cooked meals. Cooking not only soothes your mind, but it’s a way to nourish your body and promote physical wellness. The best part is packing the leftovers for your next shift! 

Stick to a Sleep Schedule

Whether you are working day shift, night shift, or a combo of both, your sleep as a nurse has to be a priority. Sleep improves your mood, regulates your blood sugar, improves your mental function, relieves stress, enhances athletic performance, and so many other bodily functions. You can help yourself in this area by setting up a successful sleep environment.

Depending on how you prefer to sleep, there are a variety of ways to control your sleep environment like the temperature, lighting, noise level, etc. If it helps you, pack an eye mask, turn on white noise, blast the ac, or read a book before bed. All of these options will help soothe your mind and body for a restful night’s sleep.

Social Wellness

Having a sense of connection, belonging, and a well-developed support system goes a long way with your social wellness. While traveling, you might feel a void where those connections used to be, so you will need to actively seek social interactions to enhance your social wellness while living in a new city.

Connect With Friends from Home

If you are traveling alone, connecting with your friends and loved ones while on your assignment will make you feel more at home. Share the exciting experiences of your new town with friends over a FaceTime catch-up, or send pictures to your parents so they can live vicariously through your adventures.  These little moments will enhance your social wellness.

Connect With Patients

One of the coolest things about nursing in general, but specifically travel nursing, is that you are helping people that you would have most likely never even met outside of the hospital. Every patient at your bedside has a story, a life they have lived, the advice they would give, etc. Embrace the moments you have with patients to connect with strangers and feel the impact that one conversation can have on both you and your patient. 

Take Yourself Out

Time with yourself can be social too. It doesn’t always have to be a home-cooked meal. Research the local hot spot restaurants and create a bucket list of menus you want to try. Check out upcoming concerts, free events, and more to connect socially with your assignment city. Being around the social atmosphere and taking it all in can improve your social wellness as well.

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.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By Daniel Wanderson

February 20, 2022

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Brighten Your Day: Ways to Feel Better and Improve Your Mood

We might not understand it yet, but we live during times when people’s happiness is a priority. We have all the tools and tricks to make us feel better each day, even though life might be stressful at times. Moreover, we have access to science-based information to see the proof that these methods work.

This means that you can use scientifically based ways to make you feel happier, and they will work. The ways described below are focused on boosting hormones responsible for people’s happiness, satisfaction, and overall good mood. These hormones are endorphin, oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine. Let’s check out some ways you may use to feel better.

Endorphin Boosters

Everyone knows that endorphins trigger pleasant feelings and reduce the feelings of pain. So here are some ways to boost your endorphins and become happier.

Exercise

Sport and physical activity shape your body, and you become healthier. After several weeks of exercising, you will notice that you look a lot better (in case you haven’t been exercising at all before). This alone will make you feel happier, but that’s not the point. Exercising boosts endorphins.

The hormone reduces your perception of pain and triggers the positive feeling in your body, almost like dulling the pain with morphine but in a pleasant way. If you exercise correctly, you get a beautifully shaped body; you will become overall healthier, boosting endorphins. To exercise correctly, you have to combine various exercises. Training only one type of muscle is counterproductive. Try to vary your exercises, so all muscles work.

Laughter

Not just randomly producing the “haha” sound, you have to enjoy something. It’s quite a pleasant way to become happier, but you need to find ways that make you laugh. Laughter stimulates endorphins since it convulses your innards. It’s believed that laughter helps release fear. Instead of fearing something, you may find something amusing and start laughing. You can watch your favorite episodes of TV-series, videos on YouTube, read funny stories, etc.

Stretching

First of all, it feels so good that it makes you instantly happier. Second, it’s easy to stretch so it won’t disrupt your everyday routine. You may stretch your back, arms, and legs while working or watching your favorite TV-series, you can stretch while waiting for someone, talking to someone over the phone, etc.

It’s not at all necessary to push yourself harder to feel the pain. The point is to stretch those muscles you have neglected before. That’s how you get your endorphins boosted. You can start by performing simple stretching exercises and then proceed with more advanced things.

Oxytocin Boosters

Oxytocin is a hormone that is often related to love, friendship, and social bonding. Boosting oxytocin will make you feel better, so here are some ways to improve your mood.

Massage

Getting a massage is a surprisingly effective way to trigger the production of oxytocin in your body. If you think it might become an expensive habit, you are not quite right. There are at least 2 ways to save your money and still get the best massage:

It’s good at triggering oxytocin production, and what is even better, it’s a pleasant habit, and you will fall for it after the first try.

Trust

Oxytocin is responsible not just for the feeling of love (including maternal love), friendship, but for social bonding as well. Being able to trust someone triggers oxytocin in your body. If you have several individuals you can completely trust, doesn’t that make you happy? Exactly, it does, that’s the point!

If you have someone you want to trust, but you can’t, this person should be your target. It doesn’t mean you have to trust this person for the sake of trusting. Try building trust by starting conversations. If all goes well, proceed with turning this person into someone you trust, maybe, even a friend. That will help you get rid of negative emotions and will trigger the production of oxytocin.

Be Trustworthy

In a similar vein, when you trust someone, the feeling that someone trusts you also triggers oxytocin production. It’s an amazing feeling when people trust you, even if those people are not your friends or family members.

To boost the production of oxytocin, you may think of situations when people trust you. One of the best ways to do so is to honor your commitments. If you have some tasks to do, and people rely on you, a job well done would be a great oxytocin booster. You don’t have to accomplish great deeds, just small things that help you build trust every day.

Dopamine Boosters

Here are some ways to boost the level of dopamine.

Cope With Unpleasant Tasks

Everyone has it, everyone dreads even to start dealing with such a task, but you will eventually have to deal with it. The best way to make you happier is to dedicate several minutes a day to deal with it. You won’t even notice it when it’s over, and you will become happier.

Reach a Goal

In a similar vein, you may reach success by dedicating several minutes a day to complete a task. It may be learning a new language, reading a book, getting into better physical shape, working with websites like dota2-bets, etc.”. It takes less time, but the results will be amazing and satisfying.

Celebrate Every Victory

We don’t get a Ph.D. every day, but we have to be happy when gaining smaller victories. We all tend to concentrate even on small losses; why not celebrate small victories instead? Just think of one small accomplishment you have reached today, and celebrate it!

Serotonin Boosters

This hormone is responsible for such feelings as happiness, the feeling of well-being, and even boosts your confidence. Below you may find some pleasant ways to trigger the production of serotonin.

Make Peace with Lack of Control

If everything is under control, we feel happy. Even if you are the least control-seeking person, you will still be happy that your everyday routine is not disrupted. Lack of control over something confuses us; we have no idea what to do, which makes us feel worse. But it’s important to understand that we can’t control everything. Instead of feeling confused or scared when something is out of your control, it’s best to cope with the fact that you can’t control everything.

That way, you feel happier since whenever something extraordinary happens, you won’t feel like it’s the end of the world. You will feel safe, not scared. The best way to train your brain to be ready is to do things you are not used to. For example, if you love when everything is neat and in order, create chaos around you. Or, if you love baking your cookies due to the recipe, throw out the recipe and bake cookies without it.

Always Enjoy Your Social Role

Your social position may keep changing over time, so get used to this thought and enjoy every moment. You may think that being a subordinate is a bad thing, but dominant positions also may be confusing. As a result, you are not satisfied in both situations. Whether you are in a subordinate or a dominant position, think about the advantages of your current position. It will help you be happy and satisfied that you have advantages while being in a current position. Just enjoy every day!

Enjoy Being Proud of Something

Being acknowledged is a good feeling, but it’s a bit tricky. Everyone loves getting praised for doing something, but if not, no disappointments. It’s a tricky way to boost your serotonin level, but you can try it anyway. If it works – good, if not – it doesn’t kill you, don’t get disappointed.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By The Gypsy Nurse

February 1, 2018

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The Travel Nurse’s Do’s and Don’ts Checklist

Travel nurses are met with unique challenges as well as many benefits that a traditional nurse might not encounter. Here a few do’s and don’ts designed to help your journey as a travel nurse.

Do get active

join a Zumba class, yoga, cycling or enter a road race. Staying active is important for a healthy lifestyle and a great way to meet people in the area.

Do visit a park

take advantage of your new location by taking in the sights. Find a few parks, nature centers, or animal parks and enjoy the local attractions.

Do learn something new

hospitals and healthcare facilities have different ways of doing things. Learn how the units are run, ask questions, and try to gain new knowledge around a procedure or process that can benefit your career.

Do make new friends

with all the technology today it’s tempting to stay close to your inner circle through facetime, email, and texting. However, nothing compares to personal interaction, a hug when you need it, or a friendly face across a cup of coffee. Be sure to connect with people in your area so you have a few friends to count on in person.

Do eat healthy

your energy level and ability to perform is directly related to your nutritional intake. While it may seem obvious to a medical professional, everyone falls into the trap of rushing, grabbing junk food, or skipping meals altogether from time to time. This is especially true when you are in a new area, unfamiliar with restaurants, or alone and feel food prep is just too time-consuming for one person. Stay strong by planning ahead, eating right, and taking care of you as the number one priority.

Do rest

nursing is a demanding job, any day and every day. There are physical and emotional aspects, stress, and enormous responsibility at every turn. Adequate rest is key to good decision-making, stamina, and mood.

Don’t be afraid to ask

a new area, a new job, and a new home can add up to a lot of uncertainly and unknowns. Ask questions of those you respect and trust, research reliable sources online, and never be embarrassed to inquire about something.

Don’t fail to review your contract

read carefully to understand the assignment, location, hours, benefits, pay, and housing parameters.

Don’t get into a rut

avoid eating and shopping at the same place every time. You can still have favorites, but be open to new experiences. Try new restaurants and stores every week.

Don’t argue the rules

there will always be minor differences in procedures and processes between hospitals. As long as there are no safety concerns, don’t assume a different style is wrong. Adhere to the policies in place.

Don’t forget to stay streetwise

vary your routine, avoid leaving valuables visible in your car, walk and park in well-lit areas, and stay alert of your surroundings.

We hope these Do’s and Don’ts help you on your travel nurse journey!