If someone knows the significance of exercise more than anyone, it is a nurse. Their days go by, explaining to their patients the benefits of living a healthy life and physical activity. But often, knowledge is not enough; having the will to act upon the information often becomes a bigger concern, which holds so true for nurses.
Nurses’ lives are so focused on caring for their patients that their own health and well-being become secondary. At the end of a hectic shift, exercise or any physical activity is the last thing on their mind.
But regardless of their busy schedule, they must not ignore their physical fitness. Staying fit is important not just for their health, but for their job too. If nurses are not physically fit, they might not be able to provide exceptional services to their patients.
Therefore, whether your shift drains you completely, your family demands your time, or the bed looks too tempting, you have to plan a physical activity session every day. Some tips for busy nurses to stay fit and healthy are the following.
- Manage your activities wisely
Some nurses engage themselves in additional activities, including higher learning. You will find many RN nurses getting enrolled in BSN and other training programs. When nurses enroll in on-campus evening or weekend programs, they have even lesser time for physical activity. And due to work and study pressure, their health deteriorates even further. Therefore, online education is much better for working nurses.
If you are considering acquiring higher education for progress, promotion, or other reasons, enroll in a BSN to DNP online degree program. This way, you will have a DNP degree in a few years and qualify for many leadership positions.
You can manage online education from wherever you are and spare some time for exercise at day’s end or have an intense exercise session weekly.
- Take care of your mental health
Mental and physical health are interrelated; if you are healthy mentally, you will also witness its positive effects on your physical health. So, make time for self-care to stay fit, mentally and physically.
Make changes in your daily routine to take time out of your busy work life for your mental health. Take small breaks during the shift, take a stroll outdoors under the sun or take your pet for a walk at the nearby park at day’s end. These small breaks will help you think straight and release knots of stress and anxiety. At the same time, these light physical activities help you stay fit too.
- Squeeze in quick exercise sessions during your shift
If hitting the gym after your shift seems like a burden, add small exercise sessions during your work shift. Find an empty room and work out for a few hours to relieve your back and shoulder cramps. After a couple of weeks of quick exercise sessions, you will realize that these sessions make you more spirited and enhance your interest in work.
- Make a dedicated routine
Whatever healthy changes you make are insignificant if you don’t make a dedicated routine to practice them. For instance, if you add quick exercise sessions to your routine, they will not benefit your physical health if you don’t stick to a routine.
The best part about developing a routine is that your mind and body tune themselves accordingly. Let’s say you want to increase your step count by 1000 daily. Your body and mind will respond to your plan and help you achieve them. Initially, you may feel tired, but gradually as it becomes a routine, your body will feel energetic.
- Hit a gym of your choice
This tip is particularly targeted at nurses who can hit a gym after a busy, hectic day. Find a gym of your choice; the more well-maintained it is, the better.
You will feel happier and relaxed in a lively and state-of-the-art gym. Its ambiance will make you do what needs to be done. Therefore, the choice of the gym makes a lot of difference when it comes to a nurse doing exercise after a long, tough shift at the hospital.
It is better to work with an instructor. Talk to them about your job requirements and aches and cramps in your body. They will most likely suggest exercises that help you strengthen your muscles and relieve pain.
There is no need to overdo or push yourself too hard; a thirty minutes exercise session every day is more than enough. Exercise not only helps keep you fit but also improves your performance considerably.
Physical activity helps relieve stress and improves your mood. With an upbeat demeanor, your behavior with your patients improves too, and you generally seem more interested in your work. This way, physical activity helps you bond with your patients and improve your performance.
- Practice shoulder shrug
A nurse’s job involves carrying patients, helping them walk, using the toilet, guiding them during physical therapy, and so on. So, it is natural to feel muscle pain and stiffness in the shoulders.
A quick way to remove tension from your shoulders and above your shoulder blades is by shrugging your shoulders upwards a few times. This simple activity increases strength in your upper shoulder area.
- Make changes in your work routine
Small changes in your work routine bring positive physical health benefits for nurses. These changes may not impact your physical health as profoundly as exercise does. Still, small steps often have a bigger impact in the long run. Some modifications you can make in your routine are the following:
- Use stairs instead of an elevator
- Park your car away from the entrance so that you can walk up to it
- Do calf raises when standing, entering patient data in the system, or charting patient histories
- Walking helps release negative energy that builds up during the day. So, instead of asking the other staff to bring supplies, go to the store a few times to increase your step count
Conclusion
Keeping yourself healthy is as important as taking care of your patients. You cannot provide the best care service to your patients with compromised health. As busy as you get, it is vital for you to take some time to engage in physical activity that strengthens your muscles. Plus, it makes you energetic and more prepared for your work. Good luck!