Why Exercising Matters for Nurses

NURSING MADE EASY

Why Exercising Matters for Nurses

• Improve your health and reduce your risk of lifestyle-related diseases
• Reduce your risk of work-related injury (patient lifting, equipment transportation, etc.)
• Increase your understanding of the importance of fitness in the prevention and rehabilitation
• Reduce your stress (decrease adrenaline and cortisol and boost endorphins)
• Add as part of your self-care routine
• Be a good role model for your patients

Staying Motivated

It can be hard to stick with an exercise plan. Don’t let missing one day mess up your whole week.

Find Something You Enjoy

It might be biking in spin class, joining an intramural sport, dancing in zumba, or running on the treadmill while watching TV. What matters it that you like it, that way you’ll be more likely to stick with it.

Grab a Friend

Working out is more fun when you aren’t alone. Plus, you can encourage each other. You’ll be less likely to skip knowing your friend will be disappointed and lonely.

Set a Goal

Choose a goal to work towards. It could be a certain amount of miles you want to complete when bike riding. Or maybe you want to make it to eight fitness classes in one month. Make sure it’s achievable in the short term so you don’t get discouraged. If you want to run a marathon one day, your first goal could be completing a 5k.

Make it a Competition

If you’re a competitive person, convince a few friends and co-workers to join you. Compete to see who can get the most steps. You can use a wearable device like a FitBit® tracker or an app on your phone to track your steps. Another low-cost option is a basic pedometer. Offer a single prize like pooling your money to buying the winner’s lunch. Or decide on a group prize – for example, if 85% of your friends hit their fitness goals you’ll go see a concert together.

How to Fit Gym Time Into Your Schedule:

Questions to Ask Yourself

• Are you a morning person or a night person?
• If waking up at 4 a.m. to make it to the gym will make you miserable, you might be better off exercising after your shift. If you’re ready to go after waking up, try to make it to the gym before heading to work.
• How does working out make you feel?
• If it tires you out, work out after your shift ends and take advantage of the exhaustion to help you sleep. If it energizes you and wakes you up, go to the gym before you start your shift and carry that energy into work.
• Do you need help sticking to your exercise routine?
• Consider signing up for classes. When you pay for a class, you feel more obligated to go than if you just have a membership. If you have a friend to go with you’ll also be less likely to skip out.
• Do you work overnight?
• Depending on when you want to exercise, this might let you miss the rush. Look for a 24-hour gym so you can pop in at a time that fits your hours.
• How does your shift length affect your schedule?
• 8-hour shifts tend to make scheduling time to work out more manageable than 12-hour shifts. If you work 12 hours, exhaustion can make working out hard. Add it in on your days off or make time during your lunch hour. Don’t forget that sleep is important, too!
• Twelve-hour overnights?
• If exercise gives you energy:
• If you have multiple 12-hour night shifts, try exercising right before work on the first day. Then, take the second and third days as rest days. Sleep after your last shift, then go work out when you wake up and continue exercising on your days off.
• If exercise makes you tired:
• Another option is to exercise in the morning on the first day so you can sleep in the afternoon before work. Then, take the second day as a rest day. On the third day, work out right when you get off before heading to sleep. Then, continue to exercise on your days off too.