Life hacks for nursing. Part 6 - Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the ability to bring your attention to the present moment – to notice when our mind wanders and bring it back into focus. It is also about observing without engaging our judgement or emotions. Mindfulness keeps us in the present instead of dwelling in the past or worrying about the future.
As a nurse you are working in an emotionally charged environment. Grief, stress, excitement, relief and frustration can all be experienced in a single shift. So how do you survive and thrive in this career, long term, without burning out? Protecting yourself and managing your stress levels is not belly gazing or indulgent. If you are happy and relaxed, you will be more helpful to those around you.
Being present and observing does not mean being detached – it’s the opposite. Mindfulness practice trains you to be completely focused and engaged without draining your emotional reserves. And the beauty of mindfulness is that you can practice it while on the go, doing daily routines. As a nurse, the only time you will be in a quiet room with your eyes closed is when you are asleep, right?
So let’s get started

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  Bring your awareness to your senses. What can you hear, smell, see and taste? Start by being aware while you wash your hands. Feel the tap against your hand. Feel and smell the soap. Rather than describing it, just experience it. Listen to the water running into the sink.  As your mind wanders, notice it and gently, with no judgement, bring it back to your senses. You can do this while walking, eating, showering or doing any daily activity. The more often you practice mindfulness, the more able you will be to cope with stressful situations.


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  Concentrate on your breath. This is a good way to bring your attention to the present moment. You can do this while walking from station to station, between patients, on your way to the bathroom. Focus about 30% of your attention on your breath. Breathe slowly and evenly in through your nose and out through your mouth. As thoughts come, notice them and gently bring your attention back to the breath.


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  Use a Grounding Item. This can be kept in your pocket or worn as jewellery. Practice holding the object in a quiet moment. Feel it in your hands, clear your head of chatter and breathe for a few minutes. During the day, when you feel stressed, touch the object and this will help to bring you into the moment.

Mindfulness takes practice but just a few minutes each day can make a real change to how you cope with stress.  Being mindful can help you to be more aware of your surroundings, more appreciative of the small things and put life into perspective.