It’s no secret that having a nursing career can be stressful stuff. With obstacles to successful work-life balance, nurses need techniques that will help us relieve stress. And I’ve said this time and time again, what works for one may not be the remedy for everyone.

The secret to successful stress reduction is doing what works for you (and most of all, what you will enjoy).

[Tweet “Here are my top three tips to reducing stress in your nursing career”]

1. Ease Up on Yourself. Part of the program with my own business coach involves my inclusion in an online coaching group. My peers and I gather via this online community asking for and receiving guidance, support and advice. This morning I logged on to read about how one of my colleagues was feeling pretty low. Her exact wording was ‘I am a failure‘. I am sure we’ve all felt like this at one point or another. While it’s good to allow our feelings to surface and be experienced, we often also need a gentle reminder that we are a success. Nursing can be challenging work. There’s lots to remember, get done and keep organized on a daily basis. Focus on how you are doing a great job and allow yourself to celebrate your achievements.
2. Partake in Something Else. Work can become all-consuming. It has the capacity to take over our lives, if we let it. Being a nurse means working long hours, weekend shifts and holiday time. It can be difficult to enjoy work-life balance when it feels we are always focused on our nursing career. Find something outside of work (and nursing) that you can participate in and enjoy. From sewing to swimming, from reading to dancing… there are loads of activities out there that you can engage in and have fun with.
3. Receive Support. This one is a two-for-one special. It isn’t enough to simply have someone you can reach out to for help, guidance and/or support; you’ve actually got to allow yourself to receive it as well. In my book, ‘Nursing from Within‘ I talk a lot about those people, places and resources that we can lean on in times of need. I share one specific example of this during a trying time in my family’s life. Check out this free audio of chapter eight which can offer you some ideas for asking for and receiving help.

What did we miss? What would you add to this list? I’d love to hear from you: what’s one tip you can share with the readers on reducing stress in our nursing careers? Thanks for reading and enjoy the day!