Category: Lifestyle

Managing Stress and Anxiety During the Holidays

Thanksgiving is next week and with that the holiday season will be in full swing! I love seeing everyone post their Christmas decor already. I am 100% team do whatever makes you happy, because well, this life is hard! As much joy as the holiday’s bring, it can also bring a lot of stress and anxiety.

“I’m sorry, I can’t.”

Yep. That’s right. You can say NO. To the extra shift. To working an extra holiday. To switching shifts. To the holiday party, the cookie exchange. If your plate is full, you can say no. You don’t owe anyone time that is going to affect your mental health. There is so much going on this time of year. Choose to give the best of you to the things that will be most fulfilling to you.

Self Care and Self Soothe at the Event

Of course we can’t say no to everything, and we don’t want to say no to everything! As someone who has social anxiety, I can honestly say just because something is uncomfortable or makes you anxious doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go. And it doesn’t mean you won’t have fun! Here’s a few ideas for how to take care of yourself while you are at an event that may result in a little overstimulation or anxiety.

Take Breaks

Honestly, hiding in the bathroom or stepping outside is one of my favorite party tricks if I need a moment of silence and solitude. It’s okay to need a moment to yourself!

Practice Calming Techniques

I can’t express the power of a deep breath when you feel the stress coming on. Take a few slow, intentional, deep breaths to regulate your nervous system. Holding a cup can make you feel less awkward when standing around.

Set a Time to Leave and Stick to It

I’m going to be honest, I’m not great at this one. In fact, I kind of suck at it. And my husband is even worse. However, I know the added stress that comes with being at a party past your limit. If you’re going with a partner or friend, have this discussion before hand. If you don’t feel you can’t simply say “It’s time to go!” (which by the way, you TOTALLY can) have a reason you need to leave (check on dogs, wake up early, etc.)

Self care and schedule time for rest

It is so easy to get caught up with the hustle and bustle of the holidays that you end up completely exhausted and burnt out by the new year. Remember the importance of taking care of you! Eat food that makes you feel good (along side all those magical treats), move you body, and schedule time to recharge- whatever that looks like for you. And if that means you have to skip the fourth party of the month to have an evening to yourself- that’s okay too!

What are some of you holiday plans? I am looking forward to having both my husband’s family and my family in Florida in December for Christmas celebrations!

Life Update November 2023- Grief and Mental Health

Hey, friends. It’s been so long since I have been in that space. It’s no secret my mental health has been a struggle all my life, but especially in the last few years. Recently, I said good bye to my grandfather, “Pappy.” It’s come with a lot of feelings.

My sister and I recently spoke about how surprised we both were at the amount of grief and pain we had with the passing of Pappy. We knew it would be hard, but we have been very lucky to have gone 30 & 32 years of our life without much loss in our family. I have multiple friends that have lost parents, so I found myself comparing grief and feeling the weight of a grandparent at 32 should be less than a parent. Which in some ways may be true, but we were close to our grandfather, and it’s a great loss that comes with great pain. I find myself being caught off guard with the idea that my grandfather isn’t here anymore. And it hurts, it almost takes my breath away. It doesn’t seem possible to not have my grandfather here with us anymore. And my heart hurts for all who loved him. Especially my grandmother, his wife of 70 years.

There also has been happiness to come with the grief. The loss caused me to reflect on my time with my grandfather. I was blessed with someone who loved his family. Who taught me the value of hard work and dedication. Who was there for me throughout my childhood and my adult years. I’m so thankful to have had such a loving and amazing grandfather. It something I will forever cherish.

Along with grief, my mental health continues to be a struggle. I found myself in another depressive episode. I started to see the signs, sleeping more, showering less (gross but true), fatigue, and just feeling down. Before I knew it, I was back in the darkness of depression. Not as bad as other episodes, but bad nonetheless. Most my energy was spent making it through the work day before coming home to my bed/couch for the night.

However, I’m starting to see the light again and I’m back to feeling like I can take be proactive in caring for my mental health. The other side of grief is once your start to work towards the other side, it’s a great reminder of enjoying the time we have here. I decided to set a few small “November intentions,” something I haven’t wanted to do in a long time. I’m hoping these will help me to continue to care for my mental health and have more good days then bad. I’ll talk more about these intentions in my next post.

Overall, life is good. I have been busy with work. The weather has been beautiful here the past few weeks. Bradley surprised me with a weekend in St. Augustine for my birthday. We went to a wedding in Texas in October that was both fun and stressful (airport delays, crammed pack schedules, and little sleep.) But it was great to see friends we haven’t seen in a while and see one of our best friends get married. I definitely feel the weight of working without many breaks recently and I’m hoping we squeeze in a relaxing vacation soooooon.

How have you been? I would love to know in the comments- I have missed you!

 

 

 

Nurses Supporting Nurses

Nurses Supporting Nurses:

Guidance, Support, Community.

In the challenging world of healthcare, finding a supportive community can make all the difference. That’s where Nurses Supporting Nurses comes in. This community is a haven for nurses, nursing students, advanced practice nurses, and CNAs from all specialties. It’s a place to find support, community, and inspiration, with a focus on self-care, mental health, and education.

To Join Visit Nurses Supporting Nurses

Why Join Nurses Supporting Nurses?

The healthcare field can be emotionally taxing and stressful. Nurses Supporting Nurses offers a safe and healing space where you can share your experiences, process the trauma of working in healthcare, and find solace in the company of those who understand your journey.

The community offers online support groups facilitated by experienced professionals who hold space for you and your peers. These one-hour sessions, held weekly on Google Meet, provide an opportunity to share your story and hear from others in the nursing community.

But that’s not all. Nurses Supporting Nurses also offers free learning resources, blog posts, and more to help you on your professional and personal journey. Plus, you can tune into the NSN Shift Support Podcast, which publishes three episodes each week discussing self-care, mental health, nursing, healthcare, and more.

Ready to Join?

If you’re ready to join a community that supports, uplifts, and understands you, then Nurses Supporting Nurses is the place to be. Click the button below to explore the community and see how it can help you in your journey.

Go to Site

 

Life Update- Feburary 2023

Happy New Year, friend! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and your new year is off to a new start! I can’t believe  we are through the month of January already!

I thought we would take a little time to catch up on all the happenings around here. The past couple months have really gotten to me! It’s been busy, but I feel like things are finally on a good path.

Back to the Sunshine State

Bradley and I weren’t sure exactly what we wanted to do this fall. We love being in Greenville and close to family and friends, but we also love being in Florida and close to family and friends! It can really be a challenge when your family and friends are far apart. We decided that since we love Florida in the winter and we already had a spot reserved, we would return to our camper in Florida for the winter. It’s been great being able to enjoy warm days, sunshine, and the beach!

New Job

Yep, I am back to the nursing world in a new way. I had a job in Greenville I really enjoyed doing Medicaid Assessments for a non-skilled home health company. Basically, I went and did in home assessments for anyone who was receiving services from our home health aides. I also did orientation for the CNAs which I really enjoyed. The downside was there weren’t always many hours and it really didn’t pay well. I also didn’t use many skills as it mostly was assessing the persons home and basic needs.

I knew I was ready to find a job with more hours and more money, and felt ready to go back to nursing a little more. The move gave me the push I needed to start looking and applying for job. I had a hard time deciding what I wanted to do. Eventually after a lot of thought, I realized it wasn’t time to go back to the hospital. I need to continue to care for both my physical and mental health. I decided to apply for home health jobs and got 2 interview offers within a day of applying. By the end of the next week, I had two offers.

I took a job with the smaller home health company and so far I’m loving it! The people I work with are really nice. It is a skilled home health company so our patients receive care in their homes- we offer nursing services (wound care, skilled assessments, IV infusions, wound vac management, etc) as well as physical, occupational, and speech therapy. I typically see 4-6 patients a day for a variety of needs. I drive and provide care in their homes. It’s nice to be back to nursing in a less stressful environment but still getting to use my skills! I’ll share more about my job in upcoming post but so far, I’m really enjoying it and happy I chose this route.

Bradley’s Birthday

January 17 we celebrated Bradley’s birthday with sushi in Cocoa Village- a quaint little downtown area here. We had never been to the restaurant before but it was delicious and we look forward to going back! After we went to a new kava bar in Cocoa Beach that I was very impressed with! It was really nice and reminded you of a “regular” bar you would go to for a nice cocktail! If you don’t know what Kava it- it’s a root extract (basically a tea) used in the Pacific Islands. It gives you a bit of a “social” feeling and is used for celebrations typically.

Dry January

Today officially ends my dry January! I really have slowed down on drinking since getting long haul, but when I realized I hadn’t drank since some champagne on NYE around mid January- I decided to keep it going and finish out a dry January. I haven’t drank any this month- but Athletic Brew non-alcoholic beer is one I have tried in the past and it taste pretty dang close to a regular craft beer. Definitely try it out if your looking for a NA alternative. I want to try the ritual proof tequila and some NA wine as well!

Thanks for stopping in for a little life update! I hope you are doing great! What’s new for you? How is your New Year? Any goals, intention, or resolutions? Share below!

Life Lately- November 2022

Hello & Happy Monday, friends! It’s hard to believe Thanksgiving is next week! I feel like this year has gone surprisingly fast and the holidays are really sneaking up on me. I had a weekend balance with work and play. Saturday we went with Bradley’s (my husbands) parents and Aunt to Mexican for dinner (always a favorite for me) and saw Black Panther. It was sooo good. But also sad with the passing of Chadwick Boseman. Highly recommend seeing it (make sure you watch the first one before you go!) Also warning- it’s almost 3 hours long. So come prepared!

Heading Back to the Sunshine State

Bradley and I are packing up and heading back to our camper and the Sunshine State! Leaving is always a bitter sweet feeling because we have family and really good friends here. So it’s hard to leave people that mean so much to us. I also love Greenville and always enjoy the Christmas activities here. However, I am excited to see the beach, see my parents & brother in law/his girlfriend and enjoy the Christmas events in Florida like the boat parade! It’s hard to have home in more than one place and loved ones in more than one place- but I’m thankful we have the flexibility to essentially live in two places.

I am so excited to get back to the camper and our own space. This will be our first December in the camper so I can’t wait to decorate for Christmas and enjoy a tiny space for the holidays.

Time with my sisters

We spent a couple weeks at my sister in laws & future brother in law (they are engaged!) We house sat the first week and then got to spend time with them. I enjoyed getting to have dinners with them, my sister in law and I had a cider and fire night, and movie nights. It’s just so nice to spend time in the mountains and quality time with them!

Wednesday my sister and I had a wine and Taylor Swift night sleep over. We woke up and went to breakfast before I had to go to work. We used to be roomies so anytime we can have a sleep over I always enjoy it . It remind me of the old days, a little nostalgia.

NSN Shift Support Podcast

I have mentioned this a few times but I started a podcast for Nurses Supporting Nurses! You can read more about the podcast here. It is a huge learning curve! I didn’t even know where to record a podcast! My husband bought me a microphone for my birthday so I finally decided it was time to stop being scared and take messy action! I have been watching a lot of YouTube videos and reading a lot of articles but I am learning so much! I’m really enjoying it and the first week had over 100 downloads! Which may be small to some, but with NSN being new and me being totally new to podcasting, I was really excited with that number!

Soups & Chili Season

I have been enjoying getting to cook and enjoy some of my favorite fall/winter food- soups and chilis! I love being able to put them in a crockpot and come home to a delicious, comforting meal. I can’t wait to start sharing some of my favorite recipes with you soon! Once I am settled back in our home- I hope to start sharing!

That’s a quick overview of the life happenings over here. I have a busy week ahead of work, packing, and moving! What’s on the horizon for your week? 

Journal Prompts- November 2022

Some benefits of journaling include:

  • Reduce stress and anxiety
  • Find inspiration
  • Track progress and growth
  • Make connections between thoughts

The One Line a Day Reflection Journal is a journal I published to help those who are new to journaling or have struggled with consistency in the past. It is a simple one line reflection every day. Weekly, you have a guided reflection. And each week, you get a quote to help encourage and support you. One of my best friends, Katy Sewell, did the cover art. It’s really a beautiful reflection of both of our mental health journeys. The proceeds help to support Nurses Supporting Nurses, an organization I founded that provides free and low cost support groups to nurses and CNAs. If you are interested in joining a support group, visit https://nursessupportingnurses.com

To purchase the One Line a Day journal on Amazon, click here.

NSN Shift Support Podcast

Happy Wednesday! Monday was the official launch day of the NSN Shift Support Podcast! THANK YOU to everyone who has listened and/or subscribed! It means so much to me! The podcast already has over 70 downloads in 3 days- which is way more than I anticipated honestly! If you haven’t listened yet- I would love for you to join our community!

Subscribe/Listen to the Podcast!

The NSN Shift Support Podcast will publish 3 episodes, all 20 minutes or less every Monday to help prepare and support you before each shift. We will discuss healthcare, self care, mental health, and more! This is designed for nurses, CNAs, nursing students & any other healthcare professional that needs a little extra support before each shift!

Thank you so much for your support of the blog & the podcast! Have you listened to the podcast? If so, I’d love to hear any feedback!

Coping with Election Day Anxiety

Since the 2016 presendential election, I now have major surrounding election days. With women rights, LGBTQ rights, and more on the line with this election, no surprise, I’m full of anxiety again. If you need information on how to vote- visit http://vote.gov. But please, please PLEASE- vote. This election is so important and will effect people for generations to come.

Turn off the News, Sign off Social Media

I know this is an obvious one, but it’s an easy one to not do. Watching the preliminary counts and doom scrolling IG or Tik Tok is a sure way to get your anxiety going. Sign off of social, turn off the news, and find another way to spend your Election Day evening. A light hearted show, even if you have seen it before, like Friends, New Girl, or Gilmore Girls- is a great way to put your mind on something other than election results.

If you want to tune in late at night to see the final results, go for it. But honestly, you can’t change anything at 2am anyways. Go to sleep and find out when you wake up in the morning.

Brain Dump

Do a journal entry/brain dump where you put all your anxieties out on paper. Then, realize you have done all you can do. Easier said than done I know, but putting your worries on paper can help with dealing with anxiety.

Go on a Mental Health Walk 

Fresh air, vitamin D (although that’s harder to get with the time change) and movement are all great for stress and anxiety. Turn on a favorite (non political) podcast, music, or just enjoy the silence. Notice the weather, fresh air, & nature as you walk. If you feel like company- bring a furry companion, family member, or friend!

Call a friend or family member

If you need to let out the anxiety, set a time for how long you can talk about it (say, 15 minute) then move on to a new subject. It’s good to talk about your feelings, but it’s also good to talk about something else. Discuss the upcoming holidays, the latest show you have watched, anything but world events and the election.

Cook a comfort meal & Bake a Fall Treat

Food can hold so much comfort. Put your favorite soup or chili in the crock pot or plan to make your favorite meal on election night! The act of cooking or baking is again a great distraction and provides you with a nice treat. If you don’t feel like cooking or baking- order in or stop by your favorite restaurant/store to pick up a treat before heading home.

Deep Breaths

I find guided and deep breathing to be very helpful in calming my heart rate, nausea, and other not so fun physical symptoms that come with anxiety. Close your eyes, try not to think about the current events, and take some slow, intentional deep breaths. YouTube has a ton of great videos to guide you through meditations and deep breathing if you want more guidance.

Please remember this is a very important election, and we will not go down without a fight. You have done everything you can do by voting and educating yourself. You deserve to take a deep breath and relax on Tuesday night.

Creativity is Flowing- Workbook & a Podcast

Hello & Happy Saturday! It is a very rainy and gloomy day here today. We came back down the mountain yesterday after a very revitalizing few weeks in the mountains. I feel like the time away and enjoying the mountain air really helped to get my creativity going again which has been so nice! I think I’ll spending today under a blanket and working on NSN & the blog! Lot’s of exciting things are coming and I can’t wait to share them all with you! Today I’m sharing my two latest projects.

Self Love Mini Workbook

I officially have my first digital download for sale on both Nurses Supporting Nurses Shop and Etsy Shop! This printable mini workbook provides journal prompts, affirmations, a self reflection worksheet and more to help you on your self love & self care journey. This is perfect for anyone looking to do some inner work, as it is not specific to nurses. The profit from this workbook goes to help support Nurses Supporting Nurses to grow and help more members of the nurse community.

NSN Shift Support Podcast

This may be one of the scariest things I’m doing but I’m also so excited for it! I always said I wouldn’t have a podcast- I don’t like the sound of my voice and I just couldn’t imagine putting something like this out into the world. However, through some market research, I have found a lot of people like to consume their information through podcast. I want to help the NSN community in as many ways as I can, so a podcast was the next resource I felt I needed to provide! Every Monday I will publish three, 20 minutes or less episodes for you to listen to on your commute to your next shift. We will discuss self care, health care, mental health, and more! I would so appreciate if you would support the podcast by subscribing and tuning in! Please be kind as I learn something completely new!

Subscribe to the Podcast

That is just a few things coming down the pipeline! I’m excited to continue to grow both the blog and NSN. Thank you so much for all your support, it is appreciated!

A Drive Down Blue Ridge Parkway

Hello, friend! Happy Halloween! How are you doing? It was a nice low key weekend at my sister in laws after everyone had busy work weeks- just what we needed! Friday we went to a friend’s house for a delicious dinner of baked ziti and salad and carved pumpkins. Sunday we had a movie day, made chicken nachos, and I got a lot of work done on an upcoming project for Nurses Supporting Nurses which I can’t wait to share!

Two weeks ago- when we were dog/house sitting and it was peak leaf season we went on a drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway and it was gorgeous. It is a gorgeous road that goes through the mountains of NC and VA. Speed limit is 45 mph and there are multiple look outs you can pull over to enjoy the view- and are amazing to see a sunset or sunrise. If you are ever in the area- especially during the fall- I highly recommend a ride down the parkway!

Now, a photo dump of a few parkway pictures.

I hope everyone has a great week and a safe Halloween! It is a rainy and grey day here so I think we will keep it low key with a night at the house watching Halloween movies and hanging out with the dogs! What are your Halloween plans?