As a travel nurse, you know better than anyone else the joys and challenges that come with the job. You get to explore new places, meet people from all over the world, and have unforgettable experiences that you want to cherish forever. However, as time passes by and you move on to different travel nurse assignments, it can be difficult to hold on to those memories.
This guide can help you preserve your precious memories from travel nurse assignments. From scrapbooking and journaling to creating custom photo albums and souvenirs, these tips will ensure that your adventures will stay with you for years to come.
Create a Travel Scrapbook or Journal
One of the best ways to preserve your travel memories is to keep a travel scrapbook or journal. You can jot down your itinerary, paste ticket stubs, add memorable photographs, and even draw sketches of the places you visited. Not only does it help record your experiences, but it also gives you space to reflect on them – which is great for your mental health!
Print Physical Copies of Photos
One of the simplest ways to preserve precious memories from your travel assignments is to print physical copies of your favorite photos. Photos stored on digital devices may be lost due to technology failures, accidentally deleted, or overwritten without warning.
On the other hand, old printed photographs can be easily ruined by external elements. You can keep the originals safe by depositing them in a secure location such as a safety deposit box or fireproof safe.
Create a Photo Album To Bring With You
Collecting photos and/or postcards from each place you visit and bringing them together in a photo album will allow you to create a visual diary of your travels that you can revisit whenever you want.
What’s more, having a physical album with you during your travels will also allow you to share your experiences with new friends or patients, sparking conversations and connections. If you are unsure how to create a memorable photo album, take advantage of specialized services like Mixbook.
Keep Your Dearest Memories in a Safe Place
One important step in preserving your travel memories is to ensure they are kept in a secure place. Whether it’s physical keepsakes like ticket stubs or digital files like photos and videos, these memories hold a special value that deserves protection.
Consider investing in a fireproof safe or cloud storage service to avoid the risk of loss due to unforeseen circumstances, or consider using the services made available by banks and other security deposits. While this may seem like an investment, your efforts will pay off when these preserved memories will turn your next house into a welcoming home!
Leave Photos and Mementos With Someone You Trust
If you are worried about taking your memories with you on your next assignment, one creative way to preserve precious mementos is to leave them with someone you trust. This ensures that your memories are safe even when you’re far away. You could entrust a family member, friend, or colleague who has your best interest at heart with the task of safeguarding your belongings until you return.
Frame Special Items and Take Them With You
Bringing special items with you on your travel assignment is essential to keeping cherished memories. A few examples of these items are postcards, souvenirs, and trinkets. To take it a step further, frame these items and hang them up in your temporary housing to make you feel more at home.
Record Voice Memos or Video Diaries
While traveling as a nurse, it can be hard to keep a physical journal or scrapbook. However, technology has made it easier to record your travel experience using your smartphone or an audio recorder. Recording voice memos or video diaries can be a great way to capture the sights and sounds of your destination while also reflecting on your personal experiences.
Use Memory-Keeping Apps and Websites
Travel nursing can be challenging when it comes to staying connected with loved ones and preserving precious memories. However, technology can be a game-changer. There are many memory-keeping apps and websites out there that can help you capture your travels, stay connected with family and friends, and make the most out of your assignments.
Social media is a powerful tool for documenting your travel experiences to share with friends and family. Engage with your followers by posting stories and photos of your adventures during off-duty hours. Use relevant hashtags to reach a wider audience and connect with other travel nurses who may have similar experiences or advice.
Learn About What Other Nurses Do
As a final thought, take the time to learn about what other travel nurses do to preserve their precious memories from assignments. There are bound to be some unique ideas out there that you could incorporate into your own personal memory-keeping routine. Don’t hesitate to experiment and find the method that works best for you!
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!)
