Seven Stress-Busting Hobbies For Nurses

Nursing is a stressful and demanding career, often taking a toll on the nurses’ physical health psychological well-being. There can be various sources for the stress nurses experience on the job. For instance, dealing with difficult-to-manage patients, long working hours, disagreements with coworkers, etc.

Unattended stress and work burnout can lead to many other health issues such as heart disease, chronic pain, depression, and anxiety. It also affects nurses’ performance on the job, resulting in sub-par patient care service, low patient satisfaction levels, and misjudgment.

One way to relieve stress and burnout on the job is by indulging in hobbies that divert attention from stressors and situations that lead to conflict. Hobbies are an excellent way to channel your thoughts away from work into something productive while simultaneously allowing you to stay healthy. That said, listed below are a few healthy hobbies for nurses to take their minds off stress on the job.

Enroll in online learning programs

Acquiring additional knowledge isn’t just an excellent hobby but is also essential to improve your practice. By continuing your nursing education, you can increase your self-worth distract yourself from thoughts and situations that lead to stress. Fortunately, the internet has made it extremely easy for nurses to continue their education while on their jobs. If you already have a bachelor’s degree in nursing and want to pursue higher education, opt for BSN to DNP programs online and fast-track your doctorate. Online degree programs offer flexible learning experiences that you can work around your personal and professional commitments. When you focus your attention on increasing your academic credentials, you’ll stay away from situations that lead to stress.

Exercise more often

Let’s face the reality that you might be less inclined to participate in any physical exercise as a nurse after a hectic day of work. But there is also no denying that regular exercise is one of the best ways to reduce stress and improve blood flow in the body. Physical exercise is an excellent way to burn off excess cortisol levels in your blood. With reduced levels of the stress hormone flowing through you, you’ll feel a lot better over time.

Regular exercise also produces more endorphins in your body. These chemicals relax your mind and elevate your mood. Plus, it’s a great way to burn off extra calories and bump up your self-esteem. Consider squeezing in at least 30 minutes of exercise into your daily routine.

Knitting

Two oncology nurses at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital measured burnout scores for 13 weeks. In their study, they concluded that knitting helps to reduce stress. Knitting is an activity that includes making a repetitive rhythmic motion. Knitting also requires you to pay close attention to the pattern you are making. It is an excellent stress-relieving hobby for nurses. Besides, the rhythmic finger movements also enhance nurses’ skills on the job while performing tasks, such as stitching wounds.

Watching web series

If you’re looking for the perfect distraction to take your mind of work-related stress, tuning into your favorite shows on the internet is an excellent option. Opt for something that’s light and fun; you don’t want to add to your stress by watching something that keeps you on edge.

Also, you’d want to binge-watch while you’re not on call. This way, you’ll avoid neglecting your work-related responsibilities. Grab a few healthy snacks, tuck yourself in bed, and detach yourself from the world. However, try not to extend your binge-watching sessions for too long. Sound sleep is also necessary for reducing stress levels.

Art and craft

If you’re a creative nurse, indulging in the art can also help to elevate your mood and keep stressful thoughts at bay. Crafting is an exciting way to unwind and release stress. Making new things and playing with a wide range of materials and mediums allows you to harness your energy in more productive ways.

You can try painting, sculpting, or pick start DIY projects by watching tutorials on the internet. If your projects are small, you can even bring them with you to the hospital and utilize your break time more productively.

Music

According to the George Center Foundation, listening to and participating in music-related activities reduces blood pressure, improves oxygen intake, and reduces perceived anxiety. So, if you want to avoid conversations and situations that trigger stress, consider plugging in your earphones and listing to your favorite music. Or use your spare time to learn a musical instrument. By doing so, you’ll also be enhancing your sensory reflexes and breathing, depending on the instrument you choose to learn.

Conclusion

From long shifts to challenging conditions, nurses endure a considerable amount of stress. However, it is necessary to tackle signs and symptoms of work-related stress and burnout to ensure productivity on the job. Nurturing a hobby is an excellent way to reduce stress. It distracts your attention and helps you maintain your focus on the job. This article went over a few hobbies that nurses can use to cope with increasing stress levels. These include acquiring more education, knitting, exercise, music, etc. find something that piques your interest and bust your stress bubble.