June 8, 2022

2054 Views

Handling the Road Stress and Fatigue as a Travel Nurse

Posted on June 8, 2022November 10, 2023 by Lirika Hart

Working as a traveling nurse can be exciting and rewarding. However, while it might seem like a working vacation, it comes with its own share of stress and can be quite tiring. New destinations present a task of adjusting to a number of changes: from the environment, culture, bosses, colleagues, and more, which can be challenging. In addition, working irregular schedules and long hours can leave you fatigued. If you are to be your best and perform your job well, it is important to give your well-being the attention it deserves amidst the demands of the job. Here are some tips that you can try to help you handle the stress and fatigue that comes with the job.

Get enough rest

With irregular and long schedules, it can be hard to find adequate time to rest. However, ensure that you use every opportunity that you get to rest and recharge. Being in a new place comes with the pressure of wanting to go out, meet new friends, and socialize. However, you need to be careful not to do this at the expense of your rest. Learn to say no to such commitments outside work, and use the time to rest and restore. In addition, ensure that you get enough sleep every day. If it proves impossible, 20 minutes of power naps during your breaks can go a long way in relieving excess sleep.

Use technology to your advantage.

Technology has become instrumental in our day-to-day lives, making life and work easier. You can leverage technology to alleviate some of the challenges that being a traveling nurse presents. For instance, medical apps can put important clinical information at your fingertips, saving you the stress of carrying books around. In addition, mapping sites can make it easy to find your way around new places. You can use them to find restaurants, libraries, and tourist sites, among other places, so you don’t have to stress asking other people for directions. Another great way technology can be of rescue is when you encounter the challenge of the language barrier. You can use video remote interpretation to interpret conversations with friends, colleagues, and other people who speak a different language.

Lead a healthy life

Taking care of your health plays a key role in getting rid of stress. It becomes easy to respond to stressful situations in life when you are whole. Besides, some healthy habits lead to happiness, helping your mind to relax and unwind. Here are some healthy habits that you can adopt in your life in addition to resting and getting enough sleep:

Regular exercise –Jogging, walking, practicing yoga, hiking, and swimming are ways that you can incorporate physical exercise into your busy schedule
Eating healthy meals – Minimize take-outs and prep your meals at home whenever you can
Stay hydrated – Keep a bottle of water handy to ensure that you are taking enough water throughout the day
Stay away from alcohol, cigarettes, and caffeinated drinks

Stay connected

Having people that you can turn to when things get tough is very important in curbing symptoms of stress. Just offloading your mental burdens to a listening ear can be rejuvenating. That is why it is important to have people who can provide emotional support whenever you need it. Make an effort to stay connected to your family even when working away from home. Thankfully, technology has made it so easy to communicate with loved ones regardless of where they are. In addition, foster meaningful connections with the people that you work with. People who share the same challenges as you can be instrumental in giving hope and motivating you when you feel like giving up.

Use the time to explore the world

One of the major perks of working as a traveling nurse is the opportunity to travel the world. Make sure that you are using this rare chance to explore the world and learn about different people and cultures. Instead of hanging around at home when you are not working, find interesting places that you can visit. Use the opportunity to interact with the local people and try new foods. Learning how different people live fosters a sense of gratitude and improves your outlook in life, which is important in enhancing your mental health.

Conclusion

Stress and fatigue are a part of every job, traveling nurses included. However, finding ways to handle it ensures that it doesn’t take a toll on your health. In addition, it helps ensure that you stay in the best condition to perform optimally in your job. For these reasons, ensure that you are living healthily and getting enough rest. In addition, find ways that technology can help stay connected and use the opportunity to explore the world. Such small steps go a long way.

We hope you found this article on handling road stress and fatigue as a travel nurse helpful. Are there anyways you handle stress and fatigue as a travel nurse that we didn’t mention? Comment them below.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for an upcoming assignment? Click here to search our housing page.

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

START HERE

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

By Lina Belegu

June 3, 2022

2943 Views

Reduce Stress with a Healthy Eating Plan

Posted on June 3, 2022May 27, 2022 by Lina Belegu

One reason busy, stressed people gain weight is that they eat fast food or go out to eat more frequently. This is reasonable; you may not have time to come home and make something from scratch after a long day of running about. When you’re stressed, though, healthy eating at home might help you lose weight since the meals you prepare are generally healthier. (They’re healthier than fast food, and the quantities are typically smaller and lower in fat than restaurant fare.)

Cooking at home can also save you money, which may reduce your stress levels indirectly by relieving the financial burden. Coming home and cooking something healthy or fresh after a long day may seem overwhelming, but it’s easier than you think. Here are some fast and easy tips to help you prepare healthier meals at home.

Ways to Reduce Stress with a Healthy Eating Plan:

Plan Ahead:

Going grocery shopping once a week and planning the week’s meals is a vital first step in a healthy eating plan. That way, you’ll have all of the ingredients you’ll need and won’t have to worry about picking what to eat each night; it’ll be pre-planned!

Silly, keep it simple:

You are not required to prepare a four-course dinner. What is often beneficial is also simple. (Think about it: a salad is easier to make than fried chicken, and grilled chicken is easier to prepare than lasagna.) Simply aim for a healthy balance of protein, fruits, and veggies, with minimal fats and carbohydrates. Also, if you have a sugar craving and want to eat something sweet, you can try Vegan Nutella. It’s so incredibly rich and delicious that you won’t believe it’s vegan.

Cook in advance:

You may save time by making more food than you’ll need and reheating it later in the week or month. Some individuals devote one day a month to preparing entire meals and storing their freezers, ensuring that they have nutritious, handmade food to eat throughout the month with no work. Others prepare a pot of soup or chili once a week and eat it for lunches with salad or as part of supper on a couple of nights. It’s a terrific way to eat less and incorporate more vegetables into your diet! Here’s an easy method to prepare supper for a week.

Use a Crockpot:

They’ve made a resurgence and are an excellent addition to any balanced diet. Crockpots, also known as slow cookers, are popular these days since they allow you to add a few ingredients in the morning and return home to the delectable scent of dinner ready to serve.

Try an Instant Pot:

Crockpots are fantastic for individuals who just have a few minutes in the morning and want to return home to a ready-to-eat supper, but they are limited in what you can create with them. (They’re best used in soups and stews, but they may also be used to cook chicken.) The Instant Pot, which is a cross between a crockpot and a pressure cooker and can be used to produce a variety of recipes, is becoming increasingly popular.

Additional Suggestions

Once you get into the practice of eating more nutritious meals at home, you may find that you can prepare something in fifteen minutes or less—roughly the same amount of time as a drive-through and less time than a sit-down restaurant. If it still feels too stressful, here are some extra suggestions to help:

Prepare ahead of time:

Before going to bed, set the table for the next day. It will only take a few minutes this way, and those minutes will be spent while you aren’t hungry and attempting to prepare dinner.

Enlist Help:

If you have a family, assign certain tasks to them. When you know you’ll have help, cleaning up after dinner won’t seem so daunting. Put some music on and see how much you can do as a group before the conclusion of a song or two.

Use paper:

For those who truly want to cut down on cleanup, throwaway plates and flatware are always an option. While not as ecologically friendly, if the convenience of just throwing the trash once you’ve finished dining makes the difference between eating out and eating at home, go for it. You’ll save more than the cost of the plates in terms of money spent elsewhere. Hopefully, these suggestions will assist you in breaking free from your eating-out routine and establishing a new healthy eating regimen. Your stress levels will not raise, and both your health and your bank account will reward you.

We hope you found this article on ways to reduce stress with a healthy eating plan helpful. Have you found ways to reduce stress with a healthy eating plan? Comment any tips you would like to share with your fellow travel nurses below.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to search our job board. Do you need housing for an upcoming travel nurse assignment? Click here to search our housing page.

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

START HERE

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

By Morgan Elliott

February 21, 2022

1600 Views

Stress Relief: How Travel Nurses Can Use Their Time to Recharge

Posted on February 21, 2022January 16, 2023 by Morgan Elliott

Being a travel nurse is an exciting and fulfilling role. However, due to the responsibilities this job bears, many nurses tend to get overwhelmed and stressed. Even though most jobs nowadays are stressful now and then, prolonged stress can have extreme consequences on your health. This leads to burnouts and even mental illnesses like anxiety and depression!

Due to that, taking care of your mental health and taking time to get relieved from stress is crucial for this type of job. Since, as a travel nurse, you spend most of your time helping patients, it’s time to help yourself minimize stress! It’s a challenge that is not easy to overcome, but how can you succeed?

1. Stay organized

Even though staying organized is essential for any type of work, being a travel nurse requires top-notch organizational skills. As you frequently move from one place to another, keeping a schedule can help you stay organized and know your next move. But how can you do so if your every day is different?

The truth is that organization itself can cause stress if it’s not done correctly. Create schedules, to-do and checklists to stay on top of your game. They can be applied to various different situations and places. Also, keeping a bag with all work necessities can be a true lifesaver. Such organizational methods reduce anxiety as you know you already have everything you need.

stress relief — Photo by Bich Tran from Pexels

2. Get enough sleep

Naturally, getting enough sleep is vital for work. As it’s one of the main methods people use to cope with stress, sleep is an amazing remedy that relaxes your entire body. Due to stress, many travel nurses have trouble falling asleep. Is there anything you can do to make yourself fall asleep faster?

Practicing good sleep hygiene is essential for every profession. However, if you work as a nurse, you’re not only responsible for your own health and life but also for your patients’. So, to fall asleep faster and have a better quality rest, try to always go to bed around the same time, if possible. If you’re frequently working night shifts, practice sleeping during the day. Also, leave your phone before bed. That can help you relax and fall asleep faster.

3. Set a self-care routine

One of the best ways to minimize the effects of stress and take care of your well-being is having a self-care routine. Caring about your physical and mental health can have a meditative effect on your brain, which causes you to relax and enjoy your day. How can you set a self-care routine?

The self-care routine doesn’t have to be anything complicated. For instance, to establish a proper self-care routine while working as a travel nurse, drink a cup of tea or black coffee in the morning to start off your day right. Additionally, taking care of your hair, nails and skin also have a soothing effect on your mental health. Practice things that are beneficial for you.

4. Have a “me day”

Besides daily self-care activities, having a day just for yourself is a fantastic way of relieving stress as well as handling burnout. In case you didn’t know, “me days” are periods dedicated only and solely to you. You can do activities you enjoy the most during these times, such as reading a book, taking a bubble bath, or hiking!

Travel nurses don’t get many chances to enjoy a day by themselves. However, “me days” are ideal stress reliefs. Keep in mind that different people recharge in different ways. Therefore, what might work for one, it’s not a good option for the other!

5. Create a quality support system

Did you know that most people tend to talk to the closest ones when they are stressed? Since you’re far away from home, having a way to reach out to people is crucial. Sadly, your friends and family members may not always understand what you’re going through as a travel nurse. Therefore, try to build a quality support system with your colleagues.

When colleagues are mentioned, many people may think about boring emails and calls. However, you can create internal communication using informal chats and shorter content. Such internal communication examples can help you stay in touch with colleagues as well as set healthy boundaries between work and private life.

6. Try yoga and meditation

Yoga is an ideal balance between resting your mind and keeping your brain active. One of the best ways to remove tension and stress from your body is by daily practicing yoga and meditation. Even though you might have a packed schedule, you can always do these light exercises for 15 minutes.

Pranayamas and asanas are fantastic ways of letting go of all the negativity gathered during the day and enjoying unbothered rest of your time. Yoga and meditation keep you physically active without getting tired. Quite the contrary, they fill you up with energy and positivity for your day.

Final thoughts

Working as a travel nurse can be extremely stressful. You have to deal with patients daily without having much time to dedicate to yourself. However, with these stress relief tips, you can recharge your batteries to improve the quality of your personal life and work productivity!

We hope you found these tips for stress relief for travel nurses helpful. Do you have any tips for stress relief for travel nurses? Comment what has helped you below.

By Krucial Staffing

December 7, 2021

5332 Views

Mental Health Resources: Combatting Stress Brought on by the Pandemic

Posted on December 7, 2021November 18, 2021 by Krucial Staffing

This article was provided by Krucial Staffing.

This article was written by: Courtney Holmes.

The strain and stress this pandemic has put on healthcare workers is indescribable. COVID-19 created challenges healthcare workers had never faced before. At the same time, simultaneously overwhelming hospitals with patients who needed isolation at a speed many were not ready for. According to a poll done by the Washington Post in April 2021, six in 10 healthcare workers say the stress from the pandemic has harmed their mental health. If you feel like your mental health has been affected over the past two years, you are not alone.

“Healthcare is, at its core, about improving the odds of life in its struggle against death. Of extending that game which we will all lose, each one of us unto eternity, extending it another year, month or second,” said Keith Olbermann, author, and commentator, during a special broadcast on MSNBC. 

Dealing with death has always been part of being a healthcare worker. All healthcare workers train on how to handle the post-modem process, but COVID-19 has redefined the death process. Healthcare workers have had to navigate the challenges that came with the pandemic, but the amount of death seen in such a short amount of time has greatly affected those who have been in the medical field for years, especially those who recently joined the field.

As this pandemic has continued, images of patients in distress, dreams of perpetual alarms, goodbyes through an iPad, and repeated trauma have come home with many in the healthcare community.

While the pandemic is not over, we wanted to build a list of resources to help with the stress many are facing and remind everyone; you are not alone.

If you need to talk to someone immediately:

Call 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
Available 24/7 
Online Lifeline Crisis Chat
Chat 24/7

If you are struggling with Seasonal Affective Depression: 

The Cleveland Clinic, known for its world-renowned research, has resources for working through the winter months: “Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is depression that gets triggered by a change in seasons, usually when fall starts. This seasonal depression gets worse in the winter before ending in the spring.

Some people may get a mild version of SAD known as the ‘winter blues.’ It’s normal to feel a little down during colder months. You may be stuck inside, and it gets dark early.”

An organization called Better Help also offers counseling at a low cost, no matter your location. Better Help was started in 2013 to offer counseling over the phone anywhere at any time in any part of the country. According to Better Help, it has more than 24,000 licensed therapists with over 20,000 reviews. We recommend checking them out, no matter what type of mental health issue you are facing.

If you are struggling with depression/burnout:

The American Medical Association offers many resources to help healthcare workers, specifically with burnout and recovery from injuries while practicing physical and psychological medicine. AMA is directed towards healthcare professionals and examples they may experience working on the floor with patients.  

The American Psychiatry Association also breaks down how to handle stress and anxiety. They have produced information on how to combat depression on a day-to-day basis. Additionally, there is a page with commonly asked questions about depression if you are unsure where to begin your healing journey.

If you are struggling with PTSD: 

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has excellent resources for working through PTSD. 

According to the NIMH, “Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary or dangerous event.

It is natural to feel afraid during and after a traumatic situation. Fear triggers many split-second changes in the body to help defend against danger or to avoid it. This fight-or-flight response is a typical reaction meant to protect a person from harm. Nearly everyone will experience a range of reactions after trauma, yet most people recover from initial symptoms naturally. Those who continue to experience problems may be diagnosed with PTSD. People who have PTSD may feel stressed or frightened, even when they are not in danger.” 

Additionally, Healthline has fantastic resources for working through PTSD, including resources such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. EMDR is an interactive psychotherapy technique used to relieve psychological stress. 

There is not just one way to begin processing the effects of this pandemic. It is recommended to find what works for you and your situation. We at Krucial feel it is essential to encourage everyone who has worked tirelessly in this pandemic to take a moment to evaluate their mental health and reach out if needed. 

We recognize all the sacrifices that everyone in healthcare has made to help patients during this pandemic. It has taken an unimaginable toll on mental health for many healthcare workers. People left their families and lives to serve others and came home with battle scars. Your pain is noticed, your heroism is honored, and we encourage you to reach out for support.

Interested in looking more about an emergency response or contract travel options? Check out emergency response and healthcare staffing company, Krucial Staffing.  Krucial Staffing specializes in high volume, rapid response staffing, driven by a mission to serve others at their greatest time of need. To learn more about what positions they currently have open, check out their Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter page.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Need housing for your assignment? Click here to search our housing page.

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

START HERE

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

By Jackson Nurse Professionals

April 26, 2021

3772 Views

Can Acupuncture Help Relieve Your Stress as a Travel Nurse?

Posted on April 26, 2021January 16, 2023 by Jackson Nurse Professionals

This article was provided by Jackson Nurse Professionals.

While you might love travel nursing and exploring new destinations, sometimes the stress and anxiety you experience on a day-to-day basis can make any assignment miserable. In fact, beyond your career as a nurse, travel anxiety is common; The Center for Treatment of Anxiety and Mood Disorders reported that it’s not only brought on by commuting a long distance but also by meeting new people, putting yourself out there, and generally stepping outside of your comfort zone.

While relaxation techniques like meditation and taking long, slow breaths may help you cope with some anxiousness, acupuncture may be an alternative method to consider for longer-lasting results.

What is acupuncture?

According to the Mayo Clinic, acupuncture is a method of traditional Chinese medicine that is defined as the insertion of thin needles into the skin in specifically targeted points on the body. The idea behind acupuncture is that it has the ability to rebalance energy flow by stimulating nerves, muscles, and connective tissues within the body. It’s used to realign the body’s natural ability to heal.

Acupuncture is most commonly used to reduce symptoms of common conditions, such as tension migraines, lower back pain, neck pain, and menstrual cramps. More recently, acupuncture has been used to improve overall wellness, specifically in line with reducing stress levels and better managing anxiety. In fact, in a study released in 2021 by the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, they found that “..two types of acupuncture significantly reduced survivors’ chronic pain.”

Can it help you?

Opinions vary, but Rosa N. Schnyer reports that 9 out of 10 of her clients respond positively to acupuncture. A clinical assistant professor of nursing at The University of Texas at Austin reports that her patients frequently respond with “wow!” after acupuncture treatment.

Ladan Eshkevari, Ph.D., CRNA, LAc, associate professor in the department of nursing and the department of pharmacology and physiology at GUMC, shared the potential benefits acupuncture can have on those dealing with stress and anxiety.

“The benefits of acupuncture are well known by those who use it, but such proof is anecdotal,” Eshkevari said in a press release. “This research, the culmination of several studies, demonstrates how acupuncture might work in the human body to reduce stress and pain, and, potentially, depression.”

What now?

Because results can vary from person to person, it’s better to meet with an acupuncturist and decide from there. They’ll ask about your medical history, health concerns, and symptoms you want to treat. Then, you can decide.

Travel nursing is all about stepping outside of your comfort zone. Maybe this is your chance to reduce your stress and anxiety while trying something new. If you do, let us know how it went!

We hope you found this information on acupuncture helpful. For more articles on wellness for travel nurses click here.

Finished the travel nursing guide and are ready to look for an assignment?

Check out our travel nurse jobs!

By Laura Greco

December 5, 2020

4016 Views

Managing Stress – Fast and Slow

Posted on December 5, 2020May 19, 2021 by Laura Greco

There is no single right way for managing stress. In fact, having multiple techniques at our disposal is advantageous. Some techniques are portable, and some aren’t. Some require props; some don’t. Some work well in the moment (fast), and some work best by building a reserve of calm and resilience over time (slow).

Chronic stress is everywhere, all day, every day.

It is so prevalent we call it “daily life” and consider it normal. It is cumulative and chips away at our mood, health, productivity, and energy.

Chronic stress can include fatigue, traffic, being overweight, bills, endless automated phone trees, comically long to-do lists, overwhelming amounts of news and information coming at us, the broken zipper on a jacket, holding grudges and resentment, negative coworkers, toxic relationships, loneliness, a poor diet, boredom, and time scarcity to name a few.

Stress responds well to a 2-pronged approach. The “slow” techniques are things you can do over time that buffer you, and the “fast” are techniques you can do in the moment of stress. Both have their place in your stress management toolbox.

Fast

In the moment of stress, you can do things to calm your nervous system, shift your perspective, and clarify your thinking. Some will change your physiology, some bring your attention to the present (where it is difficult to stay anxious or fearful), and others give you the space to consider your response before reacting.

Try:

Breathing:

Take five slow, full, belly breaths, gently breathing through your nose and allowing your exhale to be longer than your inhale. An alternate is four rounds of 4×4 breathing: inhale for a count of 4, hold for 4, exhale for four and hold again for 4.

Refocus:

Refocus on the underlying purpose- is it for the good of the patient, to create the best outcome, or are you using the situation to prove someone wrong?

Visualizing:

Imagine in detail, using as many senses as possible, your happy place, being with a pet or loved one, or doing something you enjoy.

Hugging:

Get a hug from someone you love.

Aromatherapy:

Inhale a favorite scent that calms you or reminds you to pause and reconnect with your purpose.

Shifting:

See the situation from their perspective. Or see the situation as a problem to be solved instead of as a threat.

Accepting:

Sometimes stressful things happen. Accept the things you can’t change.

Gratitude:

Focus on something you are grateful for.

Exercise:

Can you run a flight of stairs or do ten pushups?

Mindfulness:

Be present, pause, and deeply engage a sense. Notice what you can feel (a breeze, the floor beneath your feet, your heartbeat), hear (the hum of monitors or air vents), smell, see.

Repeating personal phrase:

What phrase can you adopt that reminds you to create a bit of space between your trigger and your response (this too shall pass, take the high road, rise above).

Create the space to let yourself respond to the situation and not react.

Slow

The slower, long term practices that help you handle stress include self-care, meditation, compassion, mindset, and changing the way you think about stress.

Self-care includes caring for your body, mind, and spirit.

Your body needs nutritious food, a healthy weight, adequate sleep, regular and varied exercise. Your mind needs time with friends, laughter, both mental relaxation, and stimulation. Having compassion (for yourself and others), hobbies, a tribe or community, and a sense of purpose and fulfillment nourish your spirit.

Meditation:

Meditation is restorative.

Mindset:

Do you predominately see the world as full of beauty and possibility or with threats to avoid? Do you put your effort into moving toward the good or evading the negative?

Change your environment:

Our internal and external environments affect our stress. Things that might need to be cleaned up include the people you spend time with, clutter, negative self-talk, time management, and perfectionism. Avoid the triggers you can avoid.

Change or accept:

Change the things you can and accept those you can’t.

Kindness:

Random acts of kindness help both the giver and receiver.

Yoga:

Yoga can provide you with a community, movement, mindfulness, and a stronger mind-body connection.

Eliminate:

Try eliminating the things that feel helpful but aren’t: yelling, hitting, complaining, being mean, ruminating, and numbing behaviors (bingeing on food, alcohol, shopping, TV, social media, sleeping). These might make you feel better in the moment, but they avoid the real problem.

Creating a self-care lifestyle supports your well-being, which boosts your resilience to stress.

There is not a universal solution to managing stress. What works for you might not be a good solution for everyone else. And what works for you at home might not be practical at work. What worked well last year might not be as helpful now. Stress changes, you change your skills at managing stress change, and your perception of stressful changes.

Having several skills in your stress management toolbox and taking a fast and slow approach to managing stress can help you succeed.

We hope you found these tips on managing stress helpful. Do you have any tips for fellow travel nurses on managing stress? Comment them below

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

START HERE

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

By Amber Pickler

April 22, 2020

4639 Views

5 Relaxation Tips for Travel Nurses

Posted on April 22, 2020May 19, 2021 by Amber Pickler

Being a travel nurse can be stressful. You are moving every 13 weeks and starting new jobs at the same time. Leaving people you have come to know and love at this pace as well. Add in being away from family and friends, and it can be hard to find ways to relax or de-stress. We have put together some relaxation tips for travel nurses to help you on your journey.

Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR)

According to Oxford, ASMR “is a feeling of well-being combined with a tingling sensation in the scalp and down the back of the neck, as experienced by some people in response to a specific gentle stimulus, often a particular sound.” ASMR can be triggered by things like paper tearing, scalp massages, or whispering voices. These are not the only things that can trigger ASMR. However, these are common ones. If you would like to find an ASMR for yourself, YouTube is a great place to search.

Breathing Exercises

Breathing exercises are great ways to help you relax. To really relax, you need to activate your body’s natural relaxation response, a state of deep rest that:

It puts the brakes on stress
It slows your breathing and heart rate
Lowers your blood pressure
It brings your body and mind back into balance

Breathing techniques can be done in many forms such as breathing exercises, yoga, meditation, and tai chi just to name a few.

Treat Yourself

If you have the means, you could pay to have a massage, a facial, a manicure and/or pedicure, your hair done, or even go to a spa for numerous treatments. However, you do not have to go out and spend a ton of money on treating yourself or pampering yourself. You can buy some refreshing candles and give yourself a manicure or pedicure at home. If you want a facial for less money, go to the store and buy either a spread-on face mask or a face sheet mask. Pampering yourself does not have to be expensive. There is always the option of buying a massage chair/insert to add to a chair for those traveling. These are just a few ways you can treat yourself to help relax your body and mind.

Take a Hot Bath

Taking a hot bath may not be everyone’s “cup of tea”, however, it is a great way to relax and reduce stress. Bathing stimulates blood circulation and helps calm the nervous system. Another perk is it can relieve common aches and pains. Which can be common working such a strenuous job like nursing. Also, if you have trouble sleeping at night try taking a bath right before bed. You may find that washing in the shower first and then taking a bath after is more relaxing. As many do not feel as clean after a bath as with a shower.

Laugh

This may seem a little strange. However, laughter really does help to relieve stress, which in turn relaxes us. Laughter has many benefits.

Short-term benefits

A good laugh has great short-term effects. When you start to laugh, it does not just lighten your load mentally. It actually induces physical changes in your body. Laughter can:

Stimulate many organs. Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs, and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain.
Activate and relieve your stress response. A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response, and it can increase and then decrease your heart rate and blood pressure. The result? A good, relaxed feeling.
Soothe tension. Laughter can also stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation, which can help reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.

Long-term effects

Laughter is not just a quick pick-me-up, though. It is also good for you over the long term. Laughter may:

Improve your immune system. Negative thoughts manifest into chemical reactions that can affect your body by bringing more stress into your system and decreasing your immunity. By contrast, positive thoughts can release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more serious illnesses.
Relieve pain. Laughter may ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers.
Increase personal satisfaction. Laughter can also make it easier to cope with difficult situations. It also helps you connect with other people.
Improve your mood. Many people experience depression, sometimes due to chronic illnesses. Laughter can help lessen your depression and anxiety and may make you feel happier.

The way you choose to laugh is totally up to you and what you find funny. You can search for funny videos on YouTube, Facebook, or even Instagram, watch your favorite comedic movie or show. There are so many ways to find laughter.

We hope that these relaxation tips have helped you at least get started on your journey for relaxation. Do you have any relaxation tips to share? Comment them below.

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

START HERE

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

By Favorite Healthcare Staffing

April 16, 2020

6024 Views

Coping with Stress in Times of Uncertainty

Posted on April 16, 2020May 19, 2021 by Favorite Healthcare Staffing

This article provided by Favorite Healthcare.

Today’s reality looks drastically different than it did just weeks ago. With healthcare professionals racing to the front lines to assist with the current global health crisis, stress management is more important now that it ever was before.

Day after day, we see healthcare providers around the world risking their lives to keep us safe. And while we are thankful for their commitment, we know that this can take an immense toll on physical and emotional wellbeing.

While stress is unavoidable, finding the right strategies for coping with stress in these times of uncertainty will make you and the people around you stronger.

Practice positive self-care techniques

Working in healthcare, you often prioritize your patient’s health and wellness over your own. It’s important to realize that it is not selfish to take care of yourself. Setting boundaries and taking breaks when you need to will only help you in the long run. You can’t continue caring for your patients if you don’t take care of your own physical and mental health.

Practicing self-care is critical for fighting stress and avoiding burnout. Make a list of positive coping techniques to use in times of high stress. For some, this may be exercise, meditation, or watching a funny movie. Find strategies that will work best for you.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it’s important to develop healthy habits that will support your overall wellbeing. Take care of your body with the following strategies:

Meditate and practice breathing techniques
Stretch
Eat healthy, well-balanced meals
Exercise regularly
Get adequate sleep
Drink plenty of water
Limit caffeine and use of alcohol

Turn off the news

With a 24-hour news cycle, it’s all too easy to spend our free time consuming the relentless media coverage on the pandemic. Hearing about the problems we face today repeatedly can be distressing. So how can we protect our mental health? We need to disconnect.

This will look different for everyone. Maybe you need to choose one day of the week to completely turn off the news and close your social media. Or, maybe you will choose to only consume the news during a specific time of day. Make sure to set boundaries for yourself.

While you’re offline, dedicate this time to doing the things you love, learning a new skill, or just getting some sunshine in the great outdoors. It’s crucial for us to find the time to unwind and have a balance between our work and personal lives in these difficult times. Remember that when you do choose to read or share information, make sure it’s from accurate sources like the CDC or WHO.

Write in a journal

Suppressing your emotions can lead to compassion fatigue or even burnout. Journaling is one of the best outlets for these emotions. Start a journal and put your thoughts and feelings down in words. You may find it beneficial to log your exercise, track eating habits, or set daily routines and goals. Writing in a journal can help you better understand your emotions and the patterns of what causes your stress.

Stay connected with your loved ones

No one can get through this crazy world on their own. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and think that stress may affect your ability to care for your patients, ask for help. Now is not the time to stop communicating with others.

Talk to the people you trust such as friends, teammates, or loved ones about your experiences and feelings. The people closest to you will provide a sense of comfort in these challenging times. Staying connected is even more important as we continue to isolate ourselves.

What are some of the strategies you use when coping with stress and burnout? Share with us in the comments below!

Get enough rest

Use technology to your advantage.

Lead a healthy life

Stay connected

Use the time to explore the world

Conclusion

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!)

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Ways to Reduce Stress with a Healthy Eating Plan:

Plan Ahead:

Silly, keep it simple:

Cook in advance:

Use a Crockpot:

Try an Instant Pot:

Additional Suggestions

Prepare ahead of time:

Enlist Help:

Use paper:

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!)

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1. Stay organized

2. Get enough sleep

3. Set a self-care routine

4. Have a “me day”

5. Create a quality support system

6. Try yoga and meditation

Final thoughts

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If you need to talk to someone immediately:

If you are struggling with Seasonal Affective Depression:

If you are struggling with depression/burnout:

If you are struggling with PTSD:

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!)

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Chronic stress is everywhere, all day, every day.

Fast

Try:

Breathing:

Refocus:

Visualizing:

Hugging:

Aromatherapy:

Shifting:

If you are struggling with Seasonal Affective Depression: 

If you are struggling with PTSD: 