Now that the holidays are almost here, it is important to take some time out to think about your wellness as a nurse. With the season being a difficult time with lots to do, you need to ask yourself about what you really want. By getting this measure of clarity, you will find it easier to prepare for the festive period and all the stressful tasks that go along with it.
Managing Your Responsibilities
Once you’re clear on what you want this holiday season, take some time to look at each of the activities you are trying to fit into your schedule. See if you actually have the time to do everything.
I worked with someone recently who looked at her schedule and realized that she actually had 4 times as much work to do as she could fit in! No wonder she felt stressed and overwhelmed. If you free up an hour each week to look at all the tasks you have to do and how you might fit the tasks into your schedule, then you will begin to work out whether it is feasible.
You can also look for a helping hand. Many people, particularly women, end up doing 99% of the work and then feel frazzled while their families are having a good time.
Write a list of all the tasks and divide them up between the other household members – your children and partner, if you have them, can all help. We often wait for people to offer their help and think they should know instinctively what we want them to do. But unless we tell them, we stand little chance of getting what we want.
Another stress management tip for nurses is to find ways to make each task just a bit simpler. For example, you do not need to cook elaborate meals each day to keep your visitors happy. Sometimes simple dishes are what they want. You can also ask visitors to contribute by bringing a food dish or drink, or helping to watch your children for a while so that you can have some “time off.”
Taking Your Time
Letting others relax while you slave away is a quick way to start feeling resentful and stressed. So take a look at what you have to do and try to pace yourself. Take some time out, have a date with your partner, and ensure you feel cared for. It is likely to be busy at work and home with lots going on at your kid’s schools. Making time to relax and care for yourself is vital to your wellness as a nurse.
This time of year can be a challenge for a lot of us with more hours of darkness and colder nights and days, especially here in the UK. Take time to get outside and have some sunlight to boost your mood. Working “long days” or 12-hour shifts can reduce the opportunity but even if it is just 10 minutes a day, every little bit helps. Make sure that you do get some time outside on your days off and involve the whole family. This makes the winter “depression” and hibernation feelings less likely to overwhelm you. A good walk can really raise your mood and keeps your blood flowing!
We, as nurses, are trained to look after everyone else. Yet it is also crucial that we care for ourselves as well as each other. If we all paid more attention to our nursing colleagues and our own wellbeing, we would all survive the holiday period feeling better.
So if your festive season is usually frantic, ask yourself “What do I want instead?” and then take steps to make it happen for you and your loved ones. And you can extend that to your preparations for 2014. With a clear plan in place, you can truly achieve wellness in nursing along with your other goals.