This #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek, we are sharing some steps you can take as an individual to help you stay motivated and keep your wellbeing intact as a hard working nursing professional. Carry on reading to find out more…
Make time for yourself
We’re not naive, we know that the life of a nurse is go, go, go…but during those rare moments where you do have a bit of time on your hands, make sure to spend it wisely. Whether you have a ten minute break on shift, or it’s your day off - take a moment to do something for yourself. This could be as simple as doing a short meditation, running a bath or going on a walk with a friend. Putting yourself first may feel alien at first, especially as a nurse whose role it is to care for others but it is paramount for your mental health. So go on, be selfish! You deserve it.
Routine, routine, routine
If you don’t already, try and get into a routine which is easy to maintain as this will help keep you grounded on even the most stressful of days. In fact, numerous studies have shown that having a regular structure to your day can have a significant impact on your mental health.
This could look something like:
Listening to your favourite podcast/meditation/radio station upon waking up
Making your bed
Coffee and breakfast (maybe prep this if you have a super duper early shift!)
Get ready for work (e.g. shower, get dressed and brush your teeth)
Once you’ve established the basics, you could throw in some additionals to boost your mental health such as: journalling, affirmations, practising mindfulness, home workout, morning run etc…
We know this all sounds like common sense but doing the same things in the same order every morning can really help set you up for the day and even improve your focus.
Hang out with your colleagues outside of work hours
Talking to your colleagues can help relieve any work-related stress you may be experiencing - they probably understand you better than anyone else, in fact. Instead having a rushed chit-chat on your coffee break, why not schedule a catch-up aside of work? Spending quality time with your co-workers will help reassure you that you’re not alone in how you’re feeling and will help build rapport in general.
We hope you found this blog helpful. Here at MCM we understand the vital importance of mental wellbeing for healthcare staff and strive to ensure our candidates feel supported throughout the job search and beyond. If you wish to speak to one of our friendly recruiters, please get in touch on 0203 929 4010 today.
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