All nurses have covered mental health in schooling and some even work in mental health units, but what they don’t know is the subtlety of depression among nurses. “In nurses, the symptoms are nearly buried under a continuously thwarted attempt to hide their feelings,” said Lynda Lampert, writer for Minority Nurse. We are by no means assuming all nurses are depressed, but they are constantly handling difficult, hurtful, challenging, and potentially disappointing events, which are all triggers for having sad or negative emotional outcomes. Keep yourself in sharp mental and physical health, so you can lead the best life for yourself through this difficult, yet rewarding practice. Taking care of your patients is the first priority, but when was the last time you took care of YOU? Click To Tweet
Find Some Me Time
Find a hobby you’ve never tried before and always wanted to explore. Hobbies are not exclusive to people living quiet lives. In fact, hobbies are a great break for those with busy lives to help slow things down after a long, tiring day. Hobbies fuel our minds with eustress, the positive and healthy source of stress we need to stay excited about life. Not sure where to start? Take a look at these ideas by HobbyLark, divided by personality and interests to get the ideas going! From knitting to powerlifting, there are many ways to give yourself some GOOD stress.
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Ask for Help
As a nurse, we’re used to asking, “How can I help you?” Instead of, “Please help me.” This might be a tough habit to break, but possible, it is. If you’re feeling overwhelmed at work or even in your personal life, recruit some assistance. If you’re working full time and go home to your lovely children who are also just as demanding as your patients, you’re going to go nuts from burnout. You love your job, both professionally and personally, but sometimes asking for help makes a huge difference in turning your bad day around.
“The key to dealing with burnout is finding the balance between taking productive action steps and giving yourself the rest and self-care you both desire and require. It isn’t one or the other.” – Erika Oppenheimer, SAT/ACT Prep & Mindset Coach & author for “Acing It!”.
Just remember, you’re not a burden. Just because you feel weak and tired, does not mean you’re not strong. Ask a fellow nurse if they can help you with a patient or talk to the shift manager about switching up your hours to try something new and refresh your agenda. Whether you reach out to a more seasoned nurse, or simply call up a friend to help you talk through a difficult situation, remember to reach out.
Pets are another great form of therapy. Did you know you can travel with pets at Freedom?
Healthy Munchies
At the end of a long, 12-hour shift, the last thing you want to do is “whip up” a big dinner for yourself. There are foods that are both satisfying in taste that will also boost your mood, including: eggs, poultry, seafood, tofu and low-fat greek yogurt. Try incorporating at least one of these foods during the day and treat yourself to your favorite dessert or dish once a week if you can (we’re talking about you, pizza). Most importantly, don’t skip your lunch break, even if you’re completely swamped.
“Continuous time on-task sets off strain reactions, such as stress, fatigue and negative mood, which drains focus and physical and emotional resources,” said Joe Robinson, productivity and work-life trainer at Work Olive.
Even a 15-minute break to meditate, eat a snack and go to the bathroom without being interrupted or feel under pressure will reset your brain so you can get back to being your productive self. Instead of sugary foods or alcohol that can leave you feeling even worse, try a handful of carrots with hummus, or a 10-minute meditation session you can fit in between alerts!
Don’t let your job burn you out. Here are 5 ways to fight the nursing burnout.
Move Around & Get Outside
Vitamin D, nature’s happy pill. Getting outside and doing some exercise under the sun is a great way to refresh your brain. Many communities are adopting activities like yoga in the park, taco bike rides and more. Download apps like Meetup which include all sorts of community groups for you to join in every new location. Need more ways to find new friends in new cities? Take a look at these friendly apps to give yourself a sense of community anywhere you go. It takes 21 days to form a habit. Make it a habit to take care of yourself so you can take care of your patients with the care and attention they need. Whether you choose to walk to work because you live close or spend your lunch break relaxing in the park across the street, make sure you give yourself time to see the sun.
“The extent to which daylight exposure impacts office workers is remarkable,” said study co-author Ivy Cheung, a Neuroscience doctoral candidate at Northwestern University. “Day-shift office workers’ quality of life and sleep may be improved via emphasis on light exposure and lighting levels in current offices as well as in the design of future offices,” said Cheung.
Are you ready to take on new adventures in new cities? Apply to Freedom Healthcare Staffing now for opportunities across the nation!
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