Navigating a full-time nursing career while being a parent is tough. Caring for children is time-consuming and challenging, while working as a nurse requires professionals to be focused and on the job for long hours. It can be easy to burn out while overloaded with child and career responsibilities. That’s why prioritizing self-care can help you feel energized and rested.
Taking time for yourself might sound like a luxury, but it’s not. Nurses deserve rest from facing challenges with patients, not to mention other issues such as staff shortages and lack of support from management.
If you’re unsure how to give yourself a moment to breathe, consider the following tips to tap into your support system and make space for a much-needed break.
Start With Basic Physical Self-care
Many of us think of self-care as meditation or doing nothing, but taking care of your body is self-care, too. Parents with busy careers ensure their kids have the nutrients and sleep they need, but caregivers also need to prioritize basic health needs for themselves.
Physical self-care can start with eating nutrient-rich meals (or, at least, not skipping a meal when you’re hungry), exercising, and sleeping well. These actions aid in proper body function for energy so parents won’t crash out.
When parents feel good, their children will often feel good and positive.
Create a Schedule That Includes Rest
As a parent, self-care can differ from the typical day off, day in bed scenario. Taking time for yourself can also be finding short periods during the day to ensure you’re at peace while not worrying about the kiddos.
You can also plan for a whole afternoon if you want more time to yourself.
Look at the things you have to do and see what can be moved around so that you can relax. Can you take your kids to spend the day at their grandparents house? Or, after your kids go to bed, you can sneak in an hour of reading by a candle for a calm ambiance.
You can also use a calendar or a whiteboard to schedule out rest time to know you’re due for a break.
Ask Your Community for Help
Speaking of grandparents, do you have any family or friends who can briefly take care of your kids? Asking for help can also include your nursing cohortsome of them may be parents and have experience managing a nursing career and raising children.
Talk to your fellow nurse parents for advice on how they maintain a work-life balance with kids. You might find good babysitters who can watch the kids or a number for an affordable daycare service.
Parenting sometimes takes more than two people; it often takes a community to assist with raising happy kids. This is especially true for single parents who rely on others for childcare, playtime, and other needs.
Be Realistic About What You Can Do
There’s a common theme about how moms and caregivers care too much, or are superheroes for their superhuman ability to care for kids 24/7. The reality is that no person can do everything, including nurses and families.
Sometimes dishes don’t get washed, or a child misses their favorite toy, and you can’t find it anywhere. It’s impossible to excel in every single area of your life, including being a nurse and a parent.
Stay flexible over failed plans, and be gentle with yourself as you navigate family and career life. Switching between both can feel like a circus act, but doing both is still impressive. Feel proud of your accomplishments so far, and know you’re doing your best.
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