7 Self-Care Tips for Anxious or Overwhelmed Nursing Students
Close your eyes. Inhale through your nose. Exhale everything out through your mouth. Repeat that three more times.
Has life been difficult? Are you feeling tired? Restless? Burnout?
You’re not sure how to do it all? You’ve been asking yourself how to manage school, work, and relationships all while studying for your exam?
I’ve been there. As a nursing student, I remember being burnt out and overwhelmed with anxiety and uncertainty. I wish someone had told me that my feelings were normal and that it was okay to take a break and find ways to ease them.
If you’re going through a hard time, know that you are not alone.
Remember why you started, remember your “why”, your purpose. It might be to fulfill your childhood dream of becoming a nurse, to help your family back home, or maybe you feel a sense of calling to help people in need. Whatever the reason is, remember that somewhere out there, there is a patient desperate for a NURSE like you to take care of them when they need it the most.
So allow yourself to rest and take time to dust yourself off but NEVER GIVE UP.
You have it in you to do hard things. LIFE IS HARD, BUT SO ARE YOU.
Give it some time and trust that everything will fall into place.
This is your gentle reminder that you deserve to take care of yourself. It is time for you to stop wearing burnout as a badge of honor.
When I feel anxious and my soul needs rest, below are seven self-care routines that help me fill my empty cup.
1. Start moving and boost endorphins
I think we all have at least five minutes to spare. Start with five minutes and see how you feel. Go for five jumping jacks or open your door, go outside, take in some fresh air, and slowly move your arms from side to side and move your neck from left to right. Even a brief body stretch can make a difference.
Do you have a favorite song to dance to? Beyonce? Lizzo? Harry Styles? BTS? Put that music on and dance before going to school, work, or study.
Our body is made to move, and doing any form of movement can boost endorphins that can trigger those positive feelings.
2. Nourish yourself with colorful foods
There is a direct correlation between physical and mental illness and our gut. When there’s distress in our gut, it disturbs our brain. The brain and the gastrointestinal system are intimately connected. The fresher and more colorful your foods are, the happier your brain will be.
Try having a smoothie in the morning with berries, bananas, and other colorful fruits in you. But of course, also allow yourself to treat yourself once in a while. One of my favorite activities is pretending that I am on a cooking show whenever I am making anything in my kitchen.
3. Allow stillness
We are always distracted, and we sometimes take pride in being “busy”. With social media, news from family and friends, and an endless to-do list, we never run out of things to do. Always “being on'' will gradually take its toll on our body, mind, and soul, if we don’t stop and allow some stillness and feeling of calm in our life.
When you wake up and everything is still quiet, allow yourself to have the first 5 minutes of your day dedicated to you. If the first thing you do when you wake up is to check your phone and reply to messages or check your social media, you are prioritizing the needs of others. Instead, start with three deep inhales through your nose and three abdominal exhales to start your day. Just focus on deep breathing. How you start your morning can dictate how the rest of the day transpires.
4. Set yourself up with a spa and movie night
Do you know those free skincare samples from Sephora? Take them all out, light some candles, play your favorite music, and create your spa night at home. As you wash your face, think of it as you also cleansing all the troubles of the day. Wear your comfiest pajamas and put that face mask on, while watching a feel-good movie or reading a book.
5. Do a brain dump
All those thoughts running in your head, write it all down. Grab a notebook and do a brain dump of everything that’s bothering you. Writing can be therapeutic, and it can be a way to let it all go without anyone judging you. Sometimes, we get so caught up in our heads that we don’t even realize that the answer is right in front of us. Writing can help us clear mental space, so we can make room for important decisions we have to make in life. Get it off your chest and start writing all your troubles away.
6. Connect with someone
Solitary confinement might be one of the worst punishments you can do to a human being. Studies have shown how a decrease in social interaction can increase our risk for anxiety, depression, loneliness, and physical illness.
We are social creatures, but the pandemic made it harder to connect with anyone. We have to be creative in maintaining that social connection. Watching our friends’ Instagram and TikTok videos or liking their last posts is a superficial connection. Talk to someone and start a conversation. Instead of answering “I’m fine,” what if you say how you genuinely feel? Maybe if you start being honest about how you feel might just inspire your friend to do the same.
7. Write yourself a thank-you love letter
You know those days when you wake up and you get the feeling that everything will be okay? If you get one of those days, I encourage you to write yourself a thank you love letter for the future. It’s something for you to read when the day is not as bright. On the days when you’re overwhelmed with work, life, and school, you can read this letter to encourage yourself to continue fighting and to keep going even when all the bones in your body are aching. A letter that will remind your heart to be gentle with itself and hold yourself with love and compassion. Because when the bad days come, you’ll need a loving reminder that whatever happens, in the end, you will always be okay.
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
