As nurses, we tend to overwork ourselves to the point of no return. We have a tendency to pick up extra shifts on our days off and feel guilty when we don’t. Well, I am here to say that needs to stop! Sometimes we need to slow down, breathe, and take time for ourselves even if it just one day.

When nurses only think about nursing 24/7 we are only setting ourselves up for nursing burnout. We need to sit and think about what makes us happy outside of our professional lives.  As nurses, we tend to go without eating and even using the bathroom during our 8 or 12-hour shift.  We need to decompress on our off days in order to be the best nurse we can be when we are at work.

Some ways to decompress as nurses are as followed…

1: Exercise (yoga, running, pilates, etc.)

2: Spa days (massages, facials, manicures, pedicures, etc.)

3: Relaxation day ( JUST REST!!!)

4: Put yourself first, always!

The following video is awesome describing ways to prevent nursing burnout, please do yourself a favor and watch!

http://http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBHuK5BCfA4&t=329s