Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle: 5 Self-Care Tips for Travel Nurses

Healthcare jobs can be stressful, with the potential for serious long-term impacts on practitioners’ own health if they’re not careful. The same is true of jobs that require a lot of travel. 

Travel nursing lies at the intersection of these two fields, allowing professionals to find short- to medium-term contracts through a travel nurse agency that can take them all over the country while continuing to help patients and make a lucrative salary at the same time. However, this fast-paced career requires some extra effort to take care of yourself. So read on as we break down five vital tips for self-care as a travel nurse.

1. Get Enough Sleep

So much of your physical and mental health comes down to the crucial effect of sleep on your body and mind. But all too often, busy nurses and other health professionals don’t set aside enough time for this vital rest and rejuvenation. 

A lack of sleep can result in a wide variety of negative health effects, from mood disorders to cardiovascular system damage and weight issues. Crucially for nurses, too little sleep can reduce your mental sharpness and attention on the job, as well as reduce your immune system’s protection, exposing you to potential illnesses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends seven or more hours of sleep each night for adults.

1. Eat Right and Regularly

Travel nurses certainly aren’t alone in sometimes letting proper nutrition go by the wayside during busy or high-stress periods at work. But keeping an eye on what you’re eating and when is crucial to a healthy lifestyle. 

Try to avoid fast food and highly processed items as much as possible, opting for fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, and whole foods whenever possible. If it’s tough to find time to cook during the week, take some time on a day off to meal prep for the days ahead. Your body will thank you for having something healthy and tasty ready to go whenever you need it. 

1. Stay Moving

After a long day at work, it can sometimes feel like the only option is crashing on the couch and binge-watching. However, it’s critical to stay active and exercise, even (or especially) when life is busy or hectic. Aside from the obvious physical benefits of improved stamina and reduced risk of chronic disease, exercise releases important endorphins and other body chemicals that can improve your mood and relieve stress. And while it may seem counterintuitive, staying active regularly will also increase your overall energy and help you get better quality and more sleep when your head hits the pillow. A good baseline to shoot for is the American Heart Association’s recommendation of 2.5 hours of moderate physical activity per week, ideally spread throughout the week. 

1. Explore Your Surroundings and Make Time for Fun

One of the biggest benefits of travel nursing is the ability to check out all sorts of unique, beautiful places around the country. Many people can only dream of being able to continue their skilled, high-paying careers while on the road, so make sure you take advantage of your good fortune! Even after long or stressful weeks at work, spend a few hours on your days off checking out the experiences you can only enjoy in your current location. 

This doesn’t have to mean hitting up all the top tourist attractions. Seek out what interests you in your temporary home, whether it’s gorgeous natural landscapes, delicious local food, or only-in-your-city entertainment and cultural options. Even if your idea of fun involves a movie night at home, playing some video games, or curling up with a good book, don’t forget to specifically set aside some time for things that make you happy. 

1. Disconnect

In our hyperconnected world, everyone needs to occasionally disconnect completely and take some time for themselves. This is especially true in high-stress, high-stakes jobs like nursing, with the added challenges of living life on the road. 

So whether it’s a camping trip in the wild or a relaxing soak in your bathtub, leave the notifications, text messages, phone calls, bills, and everything else behind for a short while. Your mental health will appreciate it, and you’ll feel refreshed and more ready to deal with life’s issues afterward.

Take Care of Yourself Before Taking Care of Patients

With a job as important as nursing and a lifestyle as unusual and exciting as full-time traveling, it’s no surprise traveling nurses can feel the impact on their bodies and minds. However, with a bit of dedication, it’s easy to practice the self-care necessary to make it a fruitful career for years to come. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll find it far simpler to enjoy the best parts of travel nurse jobs without the potential downsides.