5 Tips To Cope With Missing Out For Nurses Working The Holidays

As nurses, we're no strangers to working through the holidays. While our families gather around festive tables or open presents, we're at our patients' bedsides, ensuring they receive the care they need. The sense of missing out can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to define your holiday experience.

Here are five meaningful ways to bring joy to your holiday shifts and care for yourself in the process:

1. Create Your Personal Holiday Care Package

Think of this as a gift from you, to you. Put together a special package filled with items that bring you comfort and joy - maybe your favorite chocolates, a pair of cozy slippers, or that book you've been wanting to read. Place it under your tree and save it for after your shift. It's more than just a present; it's a way to honor your service and give yourself something special to look forward to.

2. Build Your Holiday Shift Playlist

Music has an incredible power to lift our spirits and change our mindset. Create a playlist of your favorite holiday tunes to carry you through your shift. Whether you're charting or taking a quick break, these melodies can help maintain a positive mood and remind you of the season's joy, even while you're caring for others.

3. Practice Mindful Gratitude

Sometimes the most powerful perspective shifts come from simple gratitude. During your shift, take moments to appreciate the gifts in your life. It might be your ability to walk independently, breathe without assistance, or move freely - things we often witness our patients struggling with. Remember that your nursing degree allows you to serve others in a unique and meaningful way, and your work provides for your family.

4. Celebrate with Your Work Family

Your colleagues understand exactly what you're experiencing because they're right there with you. Create small celebrations during your shift - organize a potluck, wear festive scrubs, or decorate your stethoscopes. These simple acts of joy not only lift your spirits but often bring smiles to your patients' faces too.

5. Embrace Rest and Reflection Between Shifts

Use your time between shifts mindfully. Instead of pushing through, take time to acknowledge your feelings about working during the holidays. Understand when your holiday shifts begin and end, and plan how you'll transition back to family time. This mental mapping helps you see that these shifts are temporary and allows you to look forward to the celebrations ahead.

Remember, your service during the holidays makes a profound difference in your patients' lives. While others celebrate at home, you're ensuring that those who need medical care aren't alone during the season. That's a gift that truly embodies the holiday spirit.

Working holiday shifts might not be what you'd choose, but with these strategies, you can create moments of joy and meaning within them. Your dedication to nursing care matters, and your sacrifices don't go unnoticed.

You Don't Have to Navigate This Alone

The holiday season can be especially challenging for nurses, but you don't have to face it by yourself. Join our Nurses Feed Their Young community, where you'll find support, understanding, and connection with fellow nurses who truly get what you're going through.

In our community, you'll find:

• Daily support from nurses who understand your challenges
• Strategies for maintaining work-life balance during the holidays and beyond
• A safe space to share your experiences and feelings
• Resources to help you thrive in your nursing career

Ready to join a community that truly supports you? Visit https://nfty.nursesfeedtheiryoung.com/membership and become part of a movement that's making nursing better, one nurse at a time.

Take care of yourself this holiday season. You deserve it.