- May 24, 2023
- Posted by: Covelo Group
- Categories: Clinical Careers, ZOE Feed
Travel nursing is demanding. A typical shift might include long hours, death, chronically ill patients, emergencies and understaffing. Beyond the stress of patient care, travel nurses often miss their families and friends, have to navigate new cities and learn new skills. These stressors can significantly affect a travel nurse’s mental and physical health. It would help if you established a healthy work-life balance to help relieve the emotional and mental strain of travel nursing.
How to Establish A Healthy Work-Life Balance
Create a Daily Wake-Up Routine
Uncertainty is part of travel nursing. Stability is hard to find when moving from place to place and changing contracts. You must add some stability to this chaos. Consider establishing a wake-up routine that helps you gain a feeling of control. Studies indicate that a consistent morning routine benefits your mental and physical health. You might meditate, take a 15-minute walk outside, or slowly sip a glass of water when you wake. It can be anything you desire. Just make it a habit.
Try New Things
If you are in a rut, you need to break out of it. Step outside of your comfort zone occasionally to spice things up. Do you have a day off coming up? Consider attending a trivia night event, a painting workshop or a rock-climbing class. When you try new things, you work out your brain and improve processing and sharpness. Using your free time to learn new skills and better yourself is an excellent way to enhance work-life balance.
Take a Break From Social Media
Taking social media breaks is an excellent healthy practice for anyone. For a travel nurse, it is crucial. It is common for nurses to scroll Instagram or Twitter during breaks. However, social media adds the stresses of comparison and unnecessary pressure to the already stressful work of patient care. A break from social media can inspire more personal social engagement, increase productivity, and give you a good night’s sleep without worrying about your phone or laptop. Consider listening to a podcast instead of scrolling through TikTok.
Set Healthy Boundaries
It is not easy to switch off the brain after a grueling shift. It will help if you separate work and home. Consider listening to a guided meditation in the car after your shift to quell lingering anxiety and quiet the mind. Build a cognitive boundary between work and home with any practice that pairs a mental transition from work with the physical act of going home. Journaling can help you move past worries and leave them on the page. It is healthy to say no. Let your co-workers and superiors know your expectations.
Contact Our Healthcare Staffing Professionals to Help Find Your Next Opportunity
Perhaps working for a healthcare staffing company that understands the importance of work-life balance might be the answer. Covelo Group understands your work-life balance needs. Browse our open jobs today.
