Tiny Tips for Daily Care of Nurses

Donna Barnett

Nurses are notorious for taking care of others and neglecting themselves. We are not only nurses but also mothers, sisters, partners, grandmothers, aunts, friends, psychiatrists, and neighbors ... did I leave anyone out? At the end of the day, we're physically and emotionally exhausted. What if we could recharge our batteries a tiny bit throughout each day? Over the course of my career, I have found that I can take care of myself by doing one or more of these tiny recharging tips.

Schedule Daily "Me Time"

If you are like me, you are very busy at work, but there is at least one time during the day or evening that you can set aside fifteen minutes just for yourself. Maybe it's the first fifteen minutes after waking up. Maybe it's fifteen minutes in the car after coming home from work. Maybe it's pulling over on the side of the road for fifteen minutes in between errands or picking up the kids. Try locking the bathroom door for that fifteen and read a few pages of your favorite book. Call a friend. Schedule time every single day and stick to it.

Don't Touch That Phone!

How many of you wake up, roll over and immediately check your phones – the weather, facebook, Instagram, email, and texts? It can wait. Try not touching your phone for the first hour and see how it feels. I'm betting you'll feel more relaxed and less rushed as you prepare for your day.

Take Short Breaks Throughout the Day

In between your assignments or in between your chores at home, take short breaks to eat, use the restroom, or simply hydrate. Maybe it isn't always feasible at work on a busy day, but it is better than a UTI, binging on junk food, or worse yet, making a mistake. Bring food from home, so if you don't get a break, you have something to take a few bites of, like an energy bar, fruit, or a nutritious muffin.

Stop and Breathe!

When you're having a super crazy shift at work, and can't seem to get caught up, just stop as you are walking down a hall and take three deep breaths. It forces you to consciously bring in some well-needed oxygen, regroup, and remind yourself you're doing the best you can.

Enjoy Your Favorite Tune

Humming a song with a great beat can have you "bee-bopping" down the hall on your way to a patient's room. It gives a burst of energy when the tank is running low.

Plan something fun on your next day off.

Days off are often filled with errands, cleaning the house, chores, and more. Take time to watch an episode of your favorite show. Take a nap. Take a bath. Plan something you thoroughly enjoy doing and look forward to it.

Reward Yourself

Did you do a double shift this pay period? Did you pick up extra shifts so your friend could go on vacation? Take a smidgeon of that money and treat yourself. Go to lunch with a friend on a day off, have a frozen yogurt after work, buy yourself some flowers or purchase those adorable shoes you saw online. You deserve it.

Set Limits

Nurses often find themselves being nurses 24/7. It's impossible. Put your phone on silent at certain hours during the day. Don't say "yes" every time the hospital calls looking for help. Delegate once in a while.

The bottom line is nursing is tough. It's rewarding and meaningful, and nurses are constantly giving of themselves on and off the job. Burnout is common. Nevertheless, if we as nurses do not take care of ourselves on a daily basis, both on and off the job, we are more likely to be prone to errors, depression, illnesses, disillusionment, and, worse of all, leaving the profession.