I just got finished doing nothing. That’s right, nothing. If I wanted to put it another way, I could say I just wrapped up being. Because what is the opposite of doing? That’s right; it’s being.
On the other hand my doggies are like popcorn kernels bouncing around in the kettle. This time of day (late afternoon) they anxiously await the arrival of my husband from work. That or they know that their dinner, which they inhale like vacuum cleaners, is very close.
While I have been sitting in my living room, listening to my Indian Chant CD while looking out the window, they have been up and down. Up and down. First one is at the back sliding glass door in my dining room that overlooks the deck. Then he trots into the space I am in, glancing at me on his way to the front bay window. The other one lays at my feet, for a nanosecond before getting up to sit on his chair, to sit in the middle of the room, to look at the window, to follow the other one around. They cannot sit still!
Watching them is like observing a nurse. Two night’s ago on the Art of Nursing wrap up call we had a question from a caller. The nurse did not exactly ask about this up-and-down nature, but revealed it through her commentary saying “My husband always laughs at me. He says I can never sit still.”
And it’s true. What she was saying was spot on. It is normal, almost mandatory, for a nurse to be in the ever constant state of ‘doing’.
But guess what? This continuous doing can lead to stress, overwhelm and exhaustion. I can say this because I know. And I am sure all of you out there reading know it too; you are probably nodding along saying, “Well, I know she is right yet I just can’t help it.”
You can. You can make a conscious choice to take time for being. That and you can practice these three tips for stress reduction in nursing.
[Tweet “Three Stress Reductions Tips for Nurses”]
1. Exhale. I notice when I am teaching Reiki to the nurses in my classes that they are holding their breath. They are trying to focus so intently on being present with the Reiki practice (which is great, by the way) that they forget to breathe. I want to remind you that our exhalation is cleansing. It lets go of what we no longer need. So any time you are stressed, notice and ask yourself “Am I breathing?” Take a pause to exhale and let it all out.
2. Release. Where are your shoulders? Right now. Literally, where are they? Are they up around your ears like mine tend to be when I am working? You have got to release your body, let go of muscle tension and stress. Throughout your day commit to a daily practice. Remind yourself to check in and observe where your shoulders are in the moment. If they are hovering around your ears it is time to take a break and let go.
3. Go outside. Even when it is raining. Even when it’s cold. Getting a breath of fresh air is so cleansing. Now this article from Harvard Medical School is a bit dated, but Mother Nature has not changed much since 2010. Getting that dose of fresh air not only improves concentration, mood and health but it can shake up the stagnant energy. When we are stuck inside for too long our creative flow can become stunted. Even if you cannot get outside, can you open a window during your day?
I would love to hear from you. Which of the three stress reduction tips do you enjoy the most? What others can you share? Go ahead and leave your comment below. Thanks for reading and enjoy your health today.
Funny thing…..I’m doing that now! NOTHING! It sure feels good 😀
LOVE it!!! Way to go, Marti. We are enjoying doing nothing together. Now on to me getting prepped for the final AON call. See you soon. Elizabeth
I love to remember to breathe. Learning to slow our heart rate takes some practice but really changes heart, lung and brain activity.
Great advice.
Thanks Roberta! I appreciate you coming by and taking time to share a comment on the blog. Breathing definitely has many, many health benefits. Enjoy the day, Elizabeth
Going outside. Whenever I miss my “morning walk” as my co-leaders recently called it or I don’t go outside all day my body knows it. I must get up and stress every so often. Not sure how others stay inside all day. Although recently I’ve noticed others going outside or talking about walking outdoors on their breaks:)
*stretch every so often
Hi Kimberly,
Great to hear from you again! Love that being outside fills your mind-body-spirit. Enjoy the glorious day,
Elizabeth
My shoulders are always up around my ears, it feels wonderful to release and breath every now and then. Going outside isn’t always an option, but if I get the chance, I am there!
Hello Cynthia,
Thank you for reading! I am glad that you feel the benefits of these simple stress reducing tools. So grateful for your comment,
Elizabeth
Great tips Elizabeth! My favorite is to breath. I remember to do that but I will start to look at my shoulders because you really do keep a lot of tension there. Thanks!
You are welcome, Naomi. Yes- the shoulders certainly have a tendency to sneak ‘up’ on you. I just noticed as I respond to your comment that mine were a little tight. Thank you for reminding me to let them drop. Enjoy the day, Elizabeth
I love what you have written here. Out of the three, I prefer going outside. Staying inside just makes the day seem longer and boring. When you;re outside, you can do other things that you can’t do at home. Like play sports, shopping, hangout with friends or fellow classmates. Another tip people can do is yoga. Yoga helps you relax your body and mind. It really is a great way to relieve stress or even treat yourself to a nice massage for those tense muscles working and on your feet most of the time.
Yay Ivy! Thank you for reading and sharing a comment from your perspective. I totally agree with your suggestions for Yoga. I would have added that to this list too, yet my intention was to keep it short and sweet. So thank you for posting what I did not have room to share. Yoga is an exceptional practice for stress reduction and to bring joy to the entire body-mind-spirit system. Enjoy the day, Elizabeth
Every morning during my stretch routine I try to relax and clear my mind chatter like meditating with stretching mix in. Thank you Elizabeth for helping us to remember time for ourselves is not selfish but essential for survival as healthcare providers!
Hello Roxanne,
Thank you for reading and taking the time to share a comment on the blog. You are so very welcome for the reminder and thank you for sharing your stretching/meditation combo mixture. It is always great to hear and learn what other people are doing so that we may try new things to see what works for us. Enjoy the weekend,
Elizabeth