1. Get Enough Sleep
As you may know, sleep deprivation can cause depression, a lack of alertness, impaired memory, and lessen your quality of life. These side-effects will greatly affect your work performance and disintegrate your mental and physical health. Sometimes in nursing, it’s impossible to get eight hours of sleep due to a long shift or a night of being on-call. There is nothing wrong with taking a cat nap during your break. Even if it means going to bed earlier, the more sleep you get, the better you will perform at work the next day.
2. Exercise
For many travel nurses, it may seem impossible to fit exercise into a schedule. However, the exercise you make time for can greatly benefit you. Exercise does not only benefit your physical health but also helps improve your mental health. Additionally, exercise helps to keep your thinking, learning, and judgment skills sharp and honed. Nobody wants to work a full shift feeling bogged down and tired. Exercise will greatly aid this and keep you on your toes.
3. Eat Healthily
Eating healthily, especially when on the road, can be difficult when you have little time to prepare meals. It isn’t impossible, however, to find ways to incorporate healthy foods into your diet. Consider cutting out some of the unhealthy, unnecessary sugars in your diet, or adding extra vegetables, nuts, or seeds to your daily lunch. An unhealthy diet can lead to grogginess and a lack of energy. With a better-balanced diet, you will have more clarity and energy at work.
4. Find Time to Relax
Travel nurses endure a lot. Tedious traveling, twelve hour-long shifts, overtime, and being on-call can take a lot out of a nurse. Remember, you aren’t inhuman. You need time to decompress and relax too. Even if you only have an hour to relax, you will greatly benefit your mental and physical health. Do what you need to de-stress. Activities that help you unwind could include exercise, taking a long bath, taking a walk to explore the location you’re in, or calling a friend or family member.
5. Find a Hobby
Finding time to relax isn’t always easy, especially if you do not have any hobbies. Hobbies are a great way to reduce stress and improve your focus. Additionally, hobbies are a great way to healthily vent your frustrations. To find a hobby, think hard about the things you enjoy. You may have a hobby, but not even know it! Hobbies can include needlework, cooking, painting, coloring, reading, or writing.
Travel Nursing Jobs
If you are looking for travel nursing jobs, you do not need to look any further. New Directions Staffing has helped nurses all over the nation find assignments that they love. We do not only offer each of our nurses the chance to refer to our resources, but offer amazing benefits and compensation. We allow our travel nurses to pick and choose from assignments and support them throughout the entirety of their time working away from home. For more information or to submit your resume, visit our website.
