Travel Nurse health is essential for the chosen lifestyle. We all know staying healthy is pretty much the hardest thing we’re faced with day in and day out of our busy nursing lives. From the barrage of cookies and donuts thrown in front of our hungry faces, to us running down the hallway stuffing it all in our mouth as we’re trying to stop that one patient from climbing out of bed. We hardly ever get to sit down and “relax”, but in the rare cases we do, the phone inevitably rings with some critical lab value or doctor finally calling you back with orders. This is our lives, and on some level we must love it, but here are a few ideas to help keep you on track during your crazy day. Travel Nurse health, here we come:
Meal Prep (Mason Jars necessary):
This seems to be the ultimate key to success. Just like most things in life, failure to plan is planning to fail (this comes from the worst planner on the face of the earth). However, when it comes to eating, this is gold. Years ago someone taught me about the Mason Jar Salad; basically you take a large mason jar, and build your salad from the top up to the bottom, like a layer cake but in reverse. You can put anything in there, chicken, beans, veggies, avocado, sweet potato, fruit, nuts, layer it all the way up and end with the lettuce on top. Seal the jar and done. Everything will stay nice and fresh and the lettuce crisp since it’s on top. Make one for every shift you’re working that week (it’s easy enough to scarf down on a busy day), and you’re set to go.
Skip the Sweets (for money):
This obviously isn’t new news to anyone, but it’s amazing how well it actually works. When I first started working night shift I was shocked at how much junk food we would consume throughout the night. Chocolate, ice cream, cookies, cake, old halloween candy, 4am donut runs, it was insane. I found the more I ate, the harder it become to say no, so finally one night one of my fellow nurse friends and I made a bet- Who could go the longest without eating any sweets at work. This was the BEST idea ever, not only did I want this for my health, but I obviously wanted to win the bet! It was ridiculously hard at first, but after a few weeks it became a piece of cake (pun intended). We kept the bet going for 8 months, inspiring other nurses along the way! It was seriously amazing and I felt 1000% better every morning when I went to bed. And oh yeah, I WON!
Take your Vitamins (dang, mom was right):
This is simple guys….. Take your vitamins, whether it a pill, a powder, a gummy bear, or a liquid-any form will do, just get them down. Our bodies are constantly inundated with germs, bacteria, viruses, every little creature that nobody wants and we need to protect ourselves!
5 minutes of Sanity (sounds impossible, I know):
The best thing we can do for ourselves and our minds is to give is a break from stimulation. We’re going a mile a minute, possibly faster, for 12+ hours a day, it’s important to take even just a few minutes to yourself to turn it all off and breathe. Find a closet, an empty room, a car, a bathroom, and lock yourself in there for at least 5 minutes to just BE. Leave your phone at the desk, turn the lights off, and shut your mind down and allow yourself to refresh. It’s amazing what just a few minutes of rest can do for us and our ability to survive the rest of the day.
Travel Nurse health can start simple and eventually, you’ll find your routine in it. If you’re currently incorporating some helpful travel nurse health habits into your diet, please share! We’d love to hear.