2025 is just around the corner, and for most of us, the new year signifies a time of reflection and positive change. It’s the time of the year when we whip out our notebooks to jot down our New Year’s resolutions. For healthcare workers, one of the top things that should be prioritized in the coming year and every year is attaining work-life balance to keep burnout at bay and improve productivity and job satisfaction. In this article, we provide a list of New Year’s resolutions to help you achieve a better work-life balance.
- Replace time spent scrolling on social media time with other fun or productive activities
On your days off or when you’re free for short periods, such as commuting home or waiting in line at the bank, it’s almost second nature for many of us to whip out our phones and go on our social media app of choice. Suppose you notice that you’re scrolling social media several hours a day and would like to curb that habit. In that case, you can replace your social media time with another fun, productive, and fulfilling activity such as any of the following:
· Learn a new skill, take a free or paid online course on platforms such as Udemy, Coursera, and Skillshare.
· Read a book. You can bring a book with you or download e-books on your phone. If you spend much time on the road, listen to an audiobook. You can also explore literary genres you don’t normally gravitate toward to expand your reading selection.
· If you plan on traveling to different countries this coming year, consider learning a new language via helpful apps such as Duolingo, Babbel, and Busuu.
· Knit or crochet. Not only do these activities improve hand-eye coordination and cognitive functions, they also have wonderful mental health benefits.
· Do a crossword or a sudoku puzzle.
· Listen to music or podcasts.
2. Strive to be more social
It’s quite easy to forget to set time for social activities when you’re busy at work and work long shifts. However, this coming year, you should strive to make time for regular social interactions with friends and loved ones, as doing so can vastly improve your mental health, boost your immune system, and lessen stress and loneliness. Here are a few tips to stay connected with friends and prioritize your social life despite your busy schedules:
· Plan your meet-ups. Communicate your (most likely packed) schedule with your friends ahead of time and plan a get-together — even if it’s weeks or months in advance.
· Communicate regularly. Sometimes, just a quick catch-up via text or Facetime is all you have time for, and that’s perfectly fine, especially during busy seasons. This can help you keep up with your friends and their lives, and let them know what’s been going on in yours, too.
· Do errands and activities together. If your friends live close to you, you can schedule running errands together, such as getting groceries or doing your daily 10k steps. That way, you can hit two birds with one stone — accomplishing an essential life task and connecting with friends.
· Meet new people. If you’re working away from home as a travel nurse, aside from keeping in contact with your longtime friends, it’s a good idea to meet new friends to spend time with. Join groups and clubs that interest you, such as book clubs, sports teams, or even volunteer groups.
3. Stay on top of your health by setting realistic goals
This resolution is oftentimes the hardest to keep for many. This is possibly because we tend to aim high and set unrealistic goals for ourselves, such as losing a lot of weight or sticking to a difficult exercise routine. To ensure that you’ll stay on top of your health goals this coming year, it’s important to make them realistic and sustainable. Here are some health goals you can try to incorporate into your New Year’s resolutions:
· Replace soda and sweetened beverages with healthy alternatives. You can opt for healthier beverages such as sparkling water, teas, and fresh fruit juices.
· Walk more. Aside from going on morning or afternoon walks, try to incorporate walking into your daily life, such as parking farther away from the hospital entrance so you can walk before and after work.
· Limit ordering food or eating out. By cooking more meals yourself, you’ll be more in control of the nutritional content and the quality of foods you consume.
· Meditate. It doesn’t have to be a lengthy meditation for it to be effective. There are many books, YouTube videos, and apps that can help you establish a sustainable meditation routine.
4. Get a work schedule that works for you
Take a moment to reflect on what your schedule looked like in 2024. Is it the most ideal for you and your loved ones? Depending on your family’s dynamic or the time you feel most active and productive in a day (if you’re an early bird or a night owl), get a work schedule you can thrive in. For example, if you have school-aged children who have to get up early (and need more assistance), you might want to see if a 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. shift works for you. Some nurses prefer working three 12-hour shifts and having four days off a week, while others prefer shorter work hours and more work days.
At Oculus Health, our nurses work directly with a dedicated operations manager who provides personalized assistance, as well as a scheduling support team that empowers them to manage their schedules and get round-the-clock support. Ready to embrace a flexible and fulfilling nursing career at Oculus Health? Check out our job openings here.
