Forget the tired, cliché New Year’s resolutions that you ditch by February 1. When you make a resolution that actually means something, you’re more likely to commit to it. If you want to be a better person and a better nurse in 2019, these are the resolutions you need to make.
Resolutions for Physical Health
Pack Your Lunch
It’s not easy to find time to eat at work, let alone eat healthy, but you spend nearly as much time gazing at the vending machine as you would eating a small meal packed from home. If you’re really short on time, pack lunches that don’t require reheating, like the ideas from Project Meal Plan.
Care for Your Back
Nursing is a physically demanding job with lots of lifting, bending, and twisting. Always practice appropriate lifting techniques, wear supportive shoes, and regularly engage in core- and back-strengthening exercises.
Insomnia-Proof Your Bedroom
Shift work takes its toll on nurses’ sleep. If you work overnight shifts and sleep during the day, you’ll have an especially hard time getting quality rest. Sleep deprivation is bad for your health and your work; nurses who aren’t sleeping well are more likely to make medical errors. Improve your sleep quality in 2019 by installing blackout curtains and soundproofing solutions in your bedroom, and taking out the TV and computer.
Mental Health Resolutions
Grow Your Confidence
Healthcare is a high-pressure environment that can easily trigger self-doubt in professionals, no matter how seasoned they are. But confidence is necessary for your ability to make sound decisions, advocate for patients, and grow in your career. In addition to the tried-and-true method of faking it until you make it, taking care of your hygiene and health and setting achievable goals are effective ways to grow your self-confidence.
Schedule Time to De-Stress
Between your career and your family, there’s not a lot of time left for you. If you don’t carve out time specifically for self-care, you won’t get it. Whether it’s stopping at a park for 15 minutes on your way home from work or signing up for that weekly yoga class, take time to relax before chronic stress catches up with you.
Spend More Time Outside
When you work long, weird hours as a nurse, you can go days without seeing the sun. It’s not unusual for nurses, but it is unhealthy. Lack of sunlight exposure can trigger depression and anxiety and cause vitamin D deficiency. Make an effort to get 10-20 minutes of sunscreen-free time outdoors every day, ideally in the morning.
Career Resolutions
Find a Mentor
Have you ever thought that you want to take the next step in your career, but you don’t know what that is? If so, you need a mentor. A professional mentor is an invaluable source of career guidance. A mentor can help you build on your strengths and identify what’s holding you back professionally. Nurse Choice suggests ways you can find a mentor.
Update Your Resume
Nurses feel a high level of satisfaction in their career, but they’re not always pleased with their jobs. If you’re unhappy with your employer, update your resume in 2019. A fresh resume ensures you’re ready for the next opportunity. Writing a resume is also an effective way to identify gaps in your skillset.
Take a Class
Once you’ve spotted the holes in your resume, fill them! Taking a class, whether to pursue a certification or general professional development, is a valuable way to advance your career.
Nursing is a career that challenges you in every way. While it can be stressful to work in such a high-pressure field, nursing also offers continuous opportunities for growth. Whether you want to work on your health, your career, or both in 2019, let these suggestions inspire your New Year’s resolutions.
By Eva Benoit, evabenoit.com