Mental Health While Traveling
Your mental health is important, as a healthcare professional working through a pandemic, nursing shortage, rising costs etc, it can feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. Knowing how to take care of yourself is vital, whether you de-stress with a bubble bath and music or a night out with friends.
Traveling to a foreign place without your family and friends can be hard. Feeling disconnected from home can create added stress to a new assignment. Our loved ones help us cope with the stress of daily life and encourage us when times get hard. Keep in touch with apps like Zoom and Facetime which make it easier than ever to experience face to face conversation with loved ones miles away. As soon as you know your schedule makes some time to call your loved ones for support.
Depending on the benefits you are offered you may have access to assistance programs that cover wellness visits. Some plans also give the option for telehealth or teletherapy sessions. These resources can help you refill prescriptions, give assistance finding the right care, or get you set up with your own therapist. Mental health is a major factor when we make difficult choices, deal with stress or relate to other people in our world and it is ok to ask for help when you need it.
Our physical well being also plays a big part in our mental well being. Exercising and eating healthy can seem nearly impossible when you're constantly on the go. Make mental health a priority in these times by meal prepping if you have a long week ahead or getting some fresh air as you check out your new city. Keeping active and eating right can do a lot to support your mental health. Getting to know a new area and new co-workers can be harder than you think. Start with getting to know other travelers and nurses at your facility and connect with them. This is a great way to get to know the new people and the new surroundings in your area.
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological and social well being. It affects how we think, feel and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others and make healthy choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life and something that should be cared for on or off the job.
