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Natural stress relief techniques for busy nurses 

 Stress Relief Techniques for Busy Nurses

–Nursing is a difficult career and one that comes with plenty of stress. Nevertheless, this stress is worthwhile to see your patients get better or to provide that loving warmth needed to a family while their loved one is sick. The best nurses understand when they are stressed and how to deal with this. Here are some great natural stress relief techniques for busy nurses who need a helping hand.

Meditation

Meditation is one of the best ways to escape the relentless thoughts that encompass your mind following a long and difficult shift. It can feel almost impossible as a nurse to switch off your mind- making meditation a key skill that every nurse should have. There are so many free applications you can download on your cellphone to learn simple meditation techniques.

Essential Oils

Using essential oils can help to provide a calming scent to your environment and can be used in conjunction with many of the other techniques on this list. Perhaps invest in some massage essential oils or light an essential oil candle while meditating. Some of the most calming scents include:

  • Rose
  • Jasmine
  • Lavender
  • Bergamot
  • Clary Sage

Write a Journal

One of the greatest ways to process our thoughts from the day is to write them down. Investing in a journal and taking time each evening to write down how you feel and how you want to move forward can help you to understand your emotions and thus, process these. This daily habit is a great way to improve mental wellbeing. Be sure to take a positive approach to this and finish with writing what you are thankful for from the day. Remember, don’t think about it too much – this is just for you, so it doesn’t need to be perfect.

Stop Drinking Caffeine

Caffeine can negatively affect our bodies in many ways, and if you are constantly feeling stressed, reducing this habit may help. Coffee can cause anxiety symptoms, and if you notice yourself becoming jittery after your morning coffee, it may be that you have become addicted to caffeine.

Exercise

Exercise is an important part of maintaining a healthy mind and body and unfortunately, is one of the key things most nurses fail to do due to mental and physical exhaustion. Exercise can benefit you in many ways including:

  • Confidence – exercising improves our self-esteem and helps us to stay in control of our weight, alongside a healthy diet
  • Stress relief – exercising lowers cortisol levels
  • Better sleep – exercising can improve how well you sleep, reducing stress and anxiety levels caused by fatigue

Talk to a Loved One

When times are getting tough, spending time with a loved one and talking about your feelings can help to put things into perspective. Having your own group of friends ensures that you have your own time to get out of the house and have some fun! Be sure to schedule in time with them, as neglecting friendships will lead to poorer mental wellbeing. It can be difficult if none of your friends are nurses, so if you have a friend who is a nurse, be sure to tap into each other’s knowledge, as nobody understands better than another nurse.

Yoga

Yoga is a very popular way of incorporating exercise and relaxation to provide natural stress relief. Whether you choose to do yoga at home or attend a local class, here are some of the many benefits of choosing to start yoga:

  • Improved energy levels
  • Reduced stress levels
  • Weight loss
  • Improved cardiovascular health
  • Increased flexibility
  • Improved tone and strength

Attending a yoga class is also a great way to meet new people and socialize in a relaxing environment. If you are worried about attending a class alone, rope in your partner or a friend.

Hug Someone!

Hugging a loved one or a pet can lower blood pressure and reduce the physical symptoms which are associated with stress. After a long day, simply sitting on the couch with your partner, child or your best friend and hugging it out can help you to relax instantly. Never underestimate the power of a good hug!

Listen to Your Favorite Music

Music is well-known to have a relaxing effect on the mind and body. You may want to find some relaxing YouTube videos or compile a playlist of your own favorite pieces. The music doesn’t necessarily need to be relaxing for everyone – music is personal to each of us and only you know what music can work best for you.

Deep Breathing Exercises

Deep breathing is a great technique no matter where you are. If you are struggling with a pretty hectic shift, take some time on your lunch break to try some deep breathing. This can help us concentrate on our thoughts and feel more in control. Follow this simple step-by-step guide:

  1. Sit comfortably
  2. Take a deep breath in through your nose, and concentrate on how this feels
  3. Hold your breath for two seconds
  4. Take a deep breath out through the mouth
  5. Repeat this until you notice your body relaxing and your thoughts calming
  6. Be mindful about how each breath feels in your body and concentrate on a point throughout the breath – perhaps how it feels each time your lungs feel with air

Deep breathing is such a simple way to improve mental wellbeing and bring yourself back down to earth when everything feels overwhelming.

Choose the Right Nursing Course

When studying to become a nurse, juggling assignments, placement, work, and a social life can lead to added stress levels. Choosing an online accelerated BSN allows you to study online which is helpful for busy nurses who don’t want to commit to traveling to university and have other family commitments. An accelerated course also provides you with the chance to earn your degree quicker.

Becoming the best version of yourself means understanding when you are stressed. Nurses need to take care of their mental health and wellbeing to provide the best quality care. Take good care of yourself and be sure to use these natural stress relief techniques whenever you feel yourself becoming unable to deal with your stress.

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About the author: Access Publishing

Scott Brennan is the publisher of this newspaper and founder of Access Publishing. Connect with him on Paso Robles Daily News on Google, Twitter, LinkedIn, or follow his blog.