Mia
A travel nurse is a registered nurse who takes up contract-based temporary assignments in hospitals and clinics. In most cases, understaffed facilities hire temporary nurses to fill in until the requirement ends. But for the most part, travel nurses get to choose their location and schedule.
A travel nurse’s work may sound exciting because of the word ‘travel.’ But it is just as challenging as enjoyable. Moving to a new place after a few months or working contract-to-contract can result in an unhealthy lifestyle. The busy schedules may make one overlook physical and mental well-being. Therefore, it can become challenging to stay healthy and fit as a traveling nurse.
It’s not like you can get a gym membership because you are never really staying at one place for a long time. Moreover, the housing arrangements are not always spacious enough. So, if you’re a travel nurse struggling to manage a healthy lifestyle, we’ve listed a few tips for you below. These include:
1. Simplify your routine
Each assignment lasts for a couple of months, extending to a year or more at each site. During that time, your initial goal should be to commit yourself to a healthy routine. But to stay healthy, you must first simplify your daily activities. For example, if cooking a meal two times a day seems like too much work, then plan and cook in advance. Similarly, if you are pursuing higher education, save your time by opting for a Master in Nursing online rather than enrolling in a campus-based program. Online education will give you the flexibility to manage your goals without having to worry about your location. Simplifying daily tasks helps to achieve a better work-life balance.
2. Set attainable goals
We all know how the 3 AM bursts of motivation to become healthy may encourage you to take drastic steps. But such measures are not sustainable, which may discourage you over time.
The most feasible method to develop a healthy routine is to set small and attainable goals. For example, you can start by preparing one meal at home instead of getting take-out three times a day. You may not realize it at first, but one healthy meal a day will familiarize you with a more nutritious food palette. Doing so every day will encourage you to eat healthily. Similarly, you can start by working out three times a week for half an hour instead of burning yourself out for an hour each day at the gym. As your stamina increases, you will find yourself exercising four or five times a week. Then, a morning without stretches and warm-up would feel incomplete.
3. Start your day with a glass of water
An effortless yet healthy habit is to start your morning with a glass of water. By doing so, you will find yourself drinking more water throughout the day. We understand that a cup of black coffee sounds more tempting for a working nurse, but a glass of water has just as many benefits packed in it for you. You can mix in some natural fruit juice to make it more nutritious and flavorsome. Staying hydrated throughout the day will energize you and help you focus on your work better.
4. Stay active
Staying healthy is crucial for nurses because they have to remain active to perform their duties. You can exercise to ensure you stay active and fit. Even though your stay in your current location will be temporary, you can still join a gym on short-term membership. But if that option is not feasible, you can workout at home or in the outdoors. Your exercise can vary according to your location. For example, you can hike if you live in hilly areas or go for a jog in a nearby park if you live in a city. If nothing else, it is easy to spread a mat in your room and do some yoga in your room.
5. Get enough sleep
Sleep is crucial for every adult if they want to stay active and fresh throughout the following day. But it is even more important for nurses because their daily routines happen to be more hectic. In addition, nurses have to treat patients, so they can’t afford to be tired and make any mistakes. Therefore, ensure you sleep for at least 7-9 hours every night to give your body time to recharge. Moreover, don’t change your sleeping schedule often to keep your body’s internal clock consistent. And if your shift changes often, try incorporating some bedtime rituals to help your body relax and fall asleep easier.
6. Prioritize your mental health
Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Nursing happens to be one of the top professions in which workers experience workplace burnout due to their challenging routines. But some methods can help you avoid mental and emotional burnout. For example, you can try meditating once a day to release your mind and body’s stress. You can listen to calming music. Or sit in a quiet place for 10-15 minutes between shifts to give yourself some time. If possible, take a short 20-30 minutes nap during noon to refresh your body and mind. All of these habits can help you relax, release stress, and avoid burnout. If there is anything that affects your mental health negatively, avoid it as much as you can.
7. Limit eating out
A healthy meal will keep your body healthy and give you the strength you need to go through your routine. But while eating out is feasible, it includes a lot of unhealthy junk that your body cannot sustain for a long time. However, slowly incorporating the habit of eating healthy will save your health and money.
Conclusion
While staying healthy is a priority for everyone, travel nurses have to take care of their health because their job demands it. If you are unhealthy, you won’t be able to bear the long work hours, which will affect your work performance. But these few methods can help you stay healthy even as a travel nurse. After all, your health comes before anything else.
