Listen to Your Body and Take the Break!

Greetings, NSNA members and future colleagues!
            Rarely, we listen to our bodies and take the well-deserved breaks that we need.  In our most recent set of resolutions that were accepted this past April, the Student Nurses’ Association from Salisbury University in Salisbury, Maryland presented a resolution on Mindfulness. The numbers in their resolution and the more that are out there today prove that we are experiencing an increased amount of stress and psychological distress! And the same is true for new-graduate nurses. So what are we doing to change these statistics?
            Why not try mindfulness? The students defined it as “a type of meditation in which you focus on being intensely aware of what you’re sensing and feeling in the moment, without interpretation or judgment.” It can be as simple as a new breathing technique! With evidence behind it, mindfulness has reduced anxiety, stress, and created resiliency! You can turn just about anything into mindfulness: eating, walking, coloring, meditation, and more! There is a method that I just learned called body scanning that helps to move your attention slowly from the top of your head and all the way down to your toes. Learn more about mindfulness and how to get the most out of your mindfulness time here!
            Remember that your health is above all else! Take very short breaks during the day and use these techniques instead of longer breaks. It is hard to remember to do these things but set little reminders on your phone throughout the day.
 
Do you have a favorite mindfulness exercise or one you would like to try? Leave it below!
 
Yours in service and signing off for now,
Lauren