8 Awesome Self-Care Tools for Nurses
Nurses were called many things by people because of the type of care they provide to their patient. Some nurses were called angels, while others were referred to as saints. But no matter how passionate nurses are to their patients, one can admit that nurses are the worst...patients.
Working a 12-hour or night shift, going to school, or going home to a house full of kids or elderly parents who may also be ill gives a toll to every nurse. Giving so much of themselves to others and the inability to say “no” can leave any nurse without the proper time to care for themselves.Nurses are burned out every day because they forget the importance of self-care.
Self-care is as important as patient care and nurses must advocate for themselves because no one will.
Here is a list of self-care tools nurses can use:
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Get yourself into a routine. Set up a routine your body will thank you for. You can do this on a weekly or monthly basis. Write this on a board and put it in a place where your family can see it so they will also be aware of your schedule.
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Learn how to say ‘no’. Even if you can and want to, you just have to learn to say no. You don’t have to do it all so you can save time and energy for more better things.
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Don’t skip meals. Eat healthy, fresh foods. Don’t go without eating any meal. Foods give us energy that fuels us to function.
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Exercise. As we know, exercise is good for our mood and joints. Even a 3-minute walk every day can make us feel better.
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Be organized. Write everything in a planner to be organized - days off, schedule of spa and mani-pedi, date nights etc. Plan and keep a routine for your laundry, grocery shopping, and bills paying.
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Have some humor and laugh. Humor is such a stress reliever so have some. And like what they say, laughter is the best medicine too. Smile daily and find something to laugh about. Think positive and everything else will turn into positive.
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Meditate. Try to slow down and breathe. Learn meditation. This is a great way to connect with your inner self and de-stress.
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Listen to some music. Great music help relax and soothe our tensed body. Tune in to a good sound while on your way home or before sleep.
Taking care of yourself on a daily basis, balancing work and home environments, decreasing the level of stress you feel and learning some tools to educate yourself so you can be your own healthcare advocate will lead to a nurse that enjoys taking care of others again.
Published at: 11/02/2017
