Hello dear one!!
Self-care should always be a priority. Here are the top 8 ways to take care of yourself so you can care for others.
Get plenty of sleep. Studies show there have been NO positive effects noted from sleep restriction. This should be enough said, but you’re a nurse or you’re going to be a nurse, so you need a kick in the bottom to go with your cold, hard facts. Nearly one-fifth of night shift nurses report struggling to stay awake while care for their patients. Rotating shifts increases this number. Even though insufficient sleep affects each person differently, the fact remains that it does affect everyone.
Invest in quality footwear. Nurses don’t have be convinced of this one. It only takes one 12-hour shift in crappy shoes and your barking, throbbing feet, ankles, and calves have you opening your Amazon app. But which quality shoe should you invest in? Just google best shoes for nurses; there are a million reviews out there. I just want you to do it before you develop fat pad atrophy (yes, it’s a thing!).
Eat healthy. Your body cannot perform the way you want it to without the proper nutrition. Even though people do it all the time, you can’t eat junk food and expect NOT to feel tired and listless. At home and at work, do yourself a favor and make at least 80% of every meal fruits and veggies. The most important thing eating healthy will do for nurses it help reduce the impact of stressors on the body. Health can be optimized through diet!
Pack your lunch daily. Eating healthy brings us full circle to, pack your own lunch for work. Especially if you work nights! The cafeteria has very limited options after 10pm. Working as nurse will most likely limit your mealtime options, forcing you to skip meals or snack on less-than-nutritious food options. If you bring your own lunch, you have control over your food choices and the timing of your meals.
Exercise for physical and emotional health. I know, you hear this one all the time, but it is so important! Everyone needs physical activity to promote physical health. But . . . as nurses, exercise can improve our psychological and emotional health. The challenge for nurses is incorporating the daily habit of exercise into their everyday lifestyle.
Get a good stethoscope that’s easy on the ears. There are many brands and styles of stethoscopes, but personal preference should play only a small role. A quality stethoscope will perform well and last for years if you take care of it. It should be light enough to carry around and easy on the ears for extended use. Find a quality stethoscope, then put your name on it. Then put your name on your favorite pens.
Don’t burn out too soon by having caffeine too early during night shift. Nursing is a busy, stressful, and exhausting job. Most of us have reached for the caffeine at some point to get through the chaos. Unfortunately, caffeine doesn’t give you energy, it just blocks you from feeling tired. Caffeine also inhibits the absorption of iron, magnesium, and Vitamin D leaving your immune system stressed and your energy lagging. Overuse can set you up for adrenal fatigue. However, caffeine has some benefits too like increased alertness. Coffee is known to have antioxidant effects. So, give some thought to your caffeine consumption and try to find the right balance for your body.
Wear compression stockings. To avoid your legs feeling heavy, itchy, tired, and painful, wear compression socks to work. Pair them with quality footwear and you’re good to go until retirement! Regardless of age, when you’re on your feet for hours, compression socks are a must! And while you’re at it, don’t cross your legs during that two-minute break!
In peace and health,
