As I continue to spend my mornings studying for NCLEX, I have started to spend my evenings working in a nursing support position at a healthcare facility. My shifts are eight hours long, so in order to reach full time hours I work almost every day of the week. Studying and working every day, each week can lead to exhaustion, frustration and a sense of hoplessness with your never ending schedule. This is why taking time for yourself is important so you do not get burnt out.
As a student nurse, taking time for yourself is very important because getting burnt out can have lasting effects. You could start slacking in school due to a loss of motivation, missing information from fatigue, and perhaps even need to repeat a course because you didn't put in the effort that you specifically needed to for that material. Spending your non-test weekends out with friends, catching up on Netflix or reading a text book other than nursing is important to recharge your brain.
Don't worry, you won't fail your OB/Peds class if you take one night off of studying!
As a nursing professional it is even more important to take time for yourself so you are not fatigued and end up making simple mistakes with patient care. Frustration from home or exhaustion can seep into your bedside manner, causing you to lose sight of how you truly are as a nurse. Competence, respect and patience are key items for any nurse to bring to their patient care routine, and if you feel stuck at work all the time, you will quickly lose sight of those items.
Working 24/7 also provides you a greater chance of you bringing work home with you - which is something that is also not proper. You might find yourself getting frustrated at simple things, being crabby towards your friends and family, or shutting yourself off from the world all the time after work. None of those characteristics are healthy, and require re-evaluation of your current lifestyle!
Personally, I turn to several things when I am looking to decompress and take time for myself. When I can, I always jump at the chance to hang out with my friends. Having a night out laughing is always a great way to recharge and wake up to your professional responsibilities the next day.
However, if they're all working or busy I never deny my bed! Taking naps or catching up on my favorite TV shows (any Real Housewives series, Catfish, Friends and Sex in the City).
Working out and lifting weights is something that I also love to do. Aside from the natural release of endorphins, working towards a stronger body and being more confident in my own skin naturally makes me more motivated for life. I always have this dream of myself being this toned, bad-ass nurse - and spending an hour or so at the gym just brings me one step closer to being so!
Finding a creative hobby, one that you have to self-learn or go to a class to complete, might be a great idea as a way to de-stress. Focusing on the task (like focusing on reps or form when working out) will allow you to not focus on the stresses of day-to-day work life. Also, you are bound to expand your friend circle with like-minded crafters or hobby-enthusiests!
One particular hobby that I am extremely curious to learn now is crocheting! I think it would be so cool to learn how to crochet items such as scarves, hate, or decorative mats!
I hope that this blog post lit a fire under your butt to re-evaluate your extremely busy schedule and take a moment for yourself. Whether it be a half hour walk in nice weather, an hour gym session, or an evening with your best friends that limits work conversations - take the time to reward yourself for all of the hard work you are doing. Getting into the habit of implementing these things into your routine sooner rather than later will only set you up for long-term success in the healthcare industry. Being a healthcare professional (future or current) can take a lot out of one single person, so it is always important to refresh your mind, body, and spirit.
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you have a fabulous rest of your week!
- Michelle
#BSNbabe
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