Caring for the Religious
People are People
Staying Fit
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Post Author: Dr. Ellis
I have always been the biggest procrastinator when it comes to consistent exercise. I have had gym memberships and personal trainers. To date, I basically have a gym in my home. Yes, from a treadmill, to a bike, and dumb bells. I made excuses as to why I did not have enough time to exercise. My mantra was, “After I finish this degree, I am going to get fit!” Well I’ve been in school most of my life, so go figure.
When we consider the level of physical and emotional stress, all leading to burnout, we see and know how imperative it is to care for oneself. Nurses do well when it comes to walking. Healthcare today allows very little time for a Nurse to sit at the desk and chart or even sit at a patient’s bedside and chat. Thanks to technology that was supposed to make our jobs easier, we now have mobile work stations and medication storage devices that keep us on our toes, literally.
Kuddos to those healthcare organizations that either have a fitness center on the premises or they have perks with discounted prices for local gyms. Taking care of those who take care of others it key to happy internal stakeholders.
It’s early in your career. I highly encourage you to make exercise a part of your lifestyle. It will certainly give you endurance to sustain, and there’s always that peace of mind that is essential to our mental stability.
Exercise = good health. I’ll see you on the track!
4 thoughts on “Staying Fit”
As a nursing student my activity stops the week before and after a big exam. Classes have shifted to online and my studying is primarily done at home. I feel lazy sitting by the computer most of the day. Sometimes I don’t even want to go outside. We have all learned that we don’t really need any equipment to workout but nursing school is tough. I have become more active recently but the next exam is approaching. I’m looking forward to a long walk after this upcoming exam.
Sisaj,
Thank you for your response. Certainly online learning has it’s challenges, whether it’s pandemic related or not. Nursing school is tough indeed, I could not agree more. As literature shows, nursing has a high burnout rate. The work is rewarding, yet challenging at times. This is all the more reason why it is important for us to take better care of ourselves. As you’ve stated, you do not need equipment. You can exercise right in your chair. Raising your arms above your head, bringing your knees to your chest, and stretching from side to side are just a few exercises you can do. The geriatric population has a great time doing them. Happy to hear you are becoming more active. Enjoy your long walk and let your mind relax as well.
Thanks for engaging!
Dr. Ellis
The COVID-19 pandemic has definietly made it challenging to maintain a physically active lifestyle. I remember during quarantine feeling super sluggish, frustrated and anxious because I would sit for most of my day and would not exercise (even though I had all the time to do so). What changed my habit was finding my why. To do so, I had to look inward and assess what my drive was? What inspired me? What reasons do I have for getting out of bed in the morning? These sorts of questions can help one look at the bigger picture and be the motivation to make healthy lifestyle changes. My why is to feel good physically and mentally and to inspire my parents live well! I hope everyone can find their why and challenge themselves!
Hi Kim,
Thanks again for taking the time to respond to these posts. Like you, being idle simply drains me versus giving me energy. I love the concept of finding your “why”, brilliant! I am a firm believer in choices. Each day that we wake up, we have a choice to either stay where we are or get up, impact something or someone, and be a part of this sometimes challenging, yet rewarding entity called life.
Thank you for engaging!
Dr. Ellis