In a
recent article from an Advance for
Nurses article (nursing.advanceweb.com)
by
Joan M. Lorenz, RN,
PMHCNS-BC entitled “Making a Self-Care Plan,” the author shares the following
rhyme that most likely reflects our experience at some point in our lives:
“Old Nurse Hubbard
Went to her cupboard
To refuel her tired body and brain
When she got there
The cupboard was bare
So poor Nurse Hubbard stayed tired and drained.
Lorenz elaborates on this
poem as follows: “The work of nursing is caring
for others. In addition, many of us also
tend to our families and neighbors.
Focusing on others and their welfare often causes us to lose sight of
ourselves and our needs. If we
disregard ourselves long enough, our emotional cupboards become bare and when
we go there we find nothing to sustain us.
There is a quirky little contradiction we need to address about
ourselves and our work- to best care for others we must first care for
ourselves.”
Lorenz reminds us that as
nurses we know well the technique of developing care plans for our
patients. Those us of who have been
around awhile, remember the days we had to write individualized care plans for
each patient in the Kardex. Today’s
care plans are now hard-wired in the computer system and we simply click away
on the various categories that are pertinent to each patient. As we assess our patients throughout the day,
our brains are updating changes in the care plan, often without our even being
aware of it. We just do it and go with
the flow of what is needed for the patient.
We evaluate the patient’s status and make changes when needed.
The author poses the
following question: “How many of us use this [care
plan method] when addressing situations in our own lives? How often do we take
time to devote our expertise in systemic assessment and goal setting to write a
care plan for something in our lives we would like to change? Most likely, not often enough- if ever. However, if we did, we might see more goal
achievement in our lives and enjoy ourselves more.”
In taking time for self,
it is necessary to overcome the idea that this objective is “selfish.”
Rather, it should be viewed as “self-nurturing.”(Lorenz) If our reserves are depleted, our well
becomes dry and we are not able to care for others with a compassionate
heart. Other obstacles to overcome are
“lack of time” and a feeling of being negatively judged by others in our
attempts to become more balanced.
We must prioritize time in
our lives for self-assessment:
·
Am I getting enough sleep?
·
Do I eat a healthy diet?
·
Do I have a regular exercise routine?
·
Do I pray/meditate on a regular basis?
·
Do I journal my inner feelings, my blessings, and my
life experiences?
·
Do I take time for creative expression (art, music,
writing, photography)?
·
Do I plan some leisure time?
·
Do I pamper myself (an occasional massage or pedicure,
a shopping spree, a dinner night out)?
·
Do I maintain a positive approach to life?
The Self-Care blog lists
are infinite and offer a plethora of self-care strategies for maintaining a
holistic balance of life. One blog, Healthy Living, in a post entitled, “Taking Time for Self-Care,” shares that “self-care
is taking the time to do things that nourish your body and mind. It is important that we all take time to
pamper ourselves every day. When we
don’t take time for self-care and prioritize our happiness, it can result in
making mistakes, procrastination, and crankiness. The first step to self-care is to evaluate
where you are putting your time and energy.
You can’t help others and do everything for everyone else if you never
do anything for yourself. You will be
more productive and useful if you take time for yourself. This may mean that you have to learn to say
“no” to people, delegate more and/or cut some activities out completely so that
you can have time for yourself.”
Last week I took a poll on
my nursing unit to ask about self-care strategies. I
posed the following question:
What
self-care strategies do you maintain in your life to assure a holistic balance
of life that will make you a better caregiver at work? The
following statements were shared:
·
Whenever I feel fatigued, I take a stretch break or
walk a couple laps in the hall.
·
I get plenty of sleep.
·
I try to eat healthy.
·
I do not watch medical shows on TV when I get home
from work.
·
I jog at least four times a week.
·
I listen to soft music before I go to bed.
·
I plan a trip to the beach over a long weekend and I
sit for hours watching the waves.
·
I take nature walks with my camera and look for photo
ops of God’s beauty.
·
When I get stressed, I pause and take a few deep
breaths.
·
I strive to stay faithful to prayer times.
·
I have a gratitude journal.
·
My husband and I go out for dinner at least once a
week.
The self-care imperative
is certainly nothing new to any of us. With
any care plan in life, it takes prioritization.
Perhaps it is time, as we approach the New Year, to go away for awhile
to a quiet place (as Jesus did quite frequently), and journal our life
experiences of self-care over the past year.
Let us jot down what we did well, what we did not do so well, what needs
to be scratched and what needs to be initiated.
“So, take care of yourself.
You deserve it
and so do your patients!!!!
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Healthy Diet and Exercise
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Journaling
Leisure
Prayer
Music |
“The Lord Is My Pace Setter”
The Lord is my pace setter…I shall not rush.
He makes me stop for quiet intervals.
He provides me with images of stillness
which restores my serenity.
He leads me in the way of efficiency
through calmness of mind and his guidance is peace.
Even though I have a great many things to
accomplish each day, I will not
fret, for his presence is here.
His timelessness, his all importance will
keep me in balance.
He prepares refreshment and renewal in the
midst of my activity by anointing my mind
with his oils of tranquility.
My cup of joyous energy overflows.
Truly harmony and effectiveness shall be
the fruits of my hours for I shall
walk in the Pace of my Lord and dwell in
his house for ever.
A
version of the twenty-third psalm from Japan
Taken from Having a Mary Heart in a
Martha World (Joanna Weaver)
