So why all of this talk about “time”? “I thought this was a health and wellness blog… what is she doing posting all about ‘time’ this month?”

Well, you’re right. This blog is all about well-being and healthy lifestyle, but “time” is a topic that could not be left out! Many of us nurses know what it is we should and should not be doing. We have the information- heck we teach it to our patients. We understand the concepts- we’ve learned many of them during years and years of education. So why are we still one of the unhealthiest professions?

According to an article published in May, 2012 by Fox News listed health care professionals as one of the eight unhealthiest professions stating:

“Shift workers—nurses and ER doctors, for example—face threats including sleep disorders, elevated stress hormones, and increased risks of diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, and heart disease. In a 2012 study published in the Journal of Nursing Administration, about 55% of nurses surveyed were obese.”

Ok, so we know what it takes to be healthy. We teach health and self-care to patients every day. We care for our families and friends. Yet we are one of the unhealthiest professions as a whole. Where is the disconnect?

I’ll tell you one thing that comes into play here: we don’t have time for ourselves. Or- as we’ve been learning and reading about all month on the LSW blog- we don’t make time for ourselves.

Time is absolutely linked to health because when we make no time for us- we get stressed and sick. Every person on this planet has the exact same amount of time each day. We all get a fair shot. We are on an even playing field. 24 hours a day- that’s what we got to work with.

Now we sleep for anywhere (on a good night) between 6-8 hours. So that leaves us with about 17 waking hours. Then let’s factor in time on the job- I know nurses can work 8 to 12 (or more) hour shifts, but for the sake of this article let’s factor in an 10 hour work day (averaging out between the two). This leaves us with 7 hours. Remember, we are all (for the most part) allotted the same benefits of time here.

So, we’ve got 7 hours left. Well, let’s factor in meals (I know, nurses don’t get a lunch break- so I won’t take a whole hour for each meal), commuting to work, and hygiene. Being generous that is about… I’d say, roughly… 4 hours. Down to 3.

What can be done with three hours? In terms of self-care, a lot! Working out for 30 minutes a day is wonderful. Meditating for 20 minutes a day is a fabulous practice. Reading a good book for 45 minutes or listening to a nice piece of music is relaxing and peaceful.

But what typically happens is we load everyone else into those 3 hours we have left. And I’m not saying we stop being helpful, family oriented, or taking care of others. I’m just pointing out to you that “time” does relate to health.

Back to our math logic above- if you’ve got about 3 hours a day, let’s make that about 15 hours a week… you have 15 hours a week to divide up. Some can be spent taking care of family, neighbors, and friends. Some of it might mean helping out with community responsibilities or commitments. But guess what!?!?

Some of those 15 hours could actually be spent on the most important person in your life- YOU!

15 hours a week. Can you just allow yourself 1 hour a week? Just as a start? If you are someone who absolutely takes no care of yourself and puts everyone else first- this will be a brand new concept to you. Instead of making an unrealistic goal (saying you’ll spend 10 hours a week on yourself) – just start small.

Take one hour a week for you. Not for your husband, children, job or friends. Just for you. One hour. Can you do that? Your health will thank you.

How much time do you spend with and on yourself each week? What are some activities that you do just for you? In what ways can you take just a bit of time for yourself each week? Share here by posting a comment below so that we can all support each other.