I’m Overwhelmed & Overbooked! 3 Tips to Reduce Stress

by | Nov 16, 2015 | 2 comments

How to Reduce Stress in Nursing: 3 Tips to Help with Overwhelm #nursingfromwithinWith the hustle and bustle of the holiday season in full swing, it’s no wonder we feel overstretched these days. Add to the ‘normal’ needs of the holidays season, the work schedule of a professional nurse… and gosh, it’s enough to make your head spin! I know there have been times when my calendar has let me down and I overbooked myself for one too many appointments, holiday parties or work meetings.

How can we manage to keep ourselves sane? How can we balance being a nurse during the holiday season?

[Tweet “Here Are 3 Tips to Help Reduce Stress During this Busy Time of Year”]

  1. The Breath is Key. I’ve mentioned this over and over on this blog before, however here is a wonderful research study from the Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine journal that highlights the relaxation and tension reducing benefits of diaphragmatic breathing. The researchers found that relaxation induced by diaphragmatic breathing increases the antioxidant defense status in the intervention group. The research findings state: ‘these effects correlate with the concomitant decrease in cortisol, which is known to negatively affect antioxidant defenses, and the increase in melatonin, a strong antioxidant’. For full study, click here.
  2. Shake it Up with Smoothies. Now I know the article I am about to share with you says ‘summertime’ smoothies. However, after reading through them… they sound oh-so-delicious and totally do-able any time of year. Especially the dark chocolate and walnut smoothie… I mean, what time of year isn’t that totally IN? Check out these five healthy recipes and bring one to work with you as a stress reliever during this hurried time of year. When we eat healthy, and plan ahead, it makes the stress of the workplace (and home life) that much easier to balance!
  3. Do Things that Make You Feel Best! I love this final tip. From being sexy to balancing your checkbook, the tips shared by this author on the NurseTogether blog has it all. Why not do what makes us feel good? I believe the number one way to reduce stress in nursing is to do things that you enjoy. Boost your confidence; value yourself… and most importantly- enjoy your work. So here’s five ways to do so, that are unique and totally diverse.

What would you add to this list above? I’d love to hear about some of your stress reduction tips and what helps you stay calm as a nurse during this busy time of year. Leave a comment below and thanks for reading!

Elizabeth Scala, MSN/MBA, RNAbout the Author: As a keynote speaker, bestselling author and virtual conference host, Elizabeth partners with hospitals, organizations, associations, and nursing groups to help transform the field of nursing from the inside out. As the bestselling author of ‘Nursing from Within‘, Elizabeth guides nurses and nursing students to a change in perspective, helping them make the inner shift needed to better maneuver the sometimes challenging realities of being a caregiver.

2 Comments

  1. nursebigguy

    As always sage advice to follow, now the trick is to follow…..

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      Yup. Half the battle is actually taking action once we know the information. Thanks for the comment!

      Reply

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