Practical Ways to Prioritize Your Own Well-being (Podcast)

Nurses devote their lives to caring for others — but, in the process, they often neglect their own well-being. By caring for themselves, however, nurses not only protect their own health but also ensure better outcomes for their patients and clinical teams.

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In the latest episode of Nurse Essentials, wellness expert Holli Blazey, CNP, APRN, provides tips for prioritizing self-care and making good decisions about nutrition, sleep and exercise. She also explains when and where overtaxed caregivers can seek wellness support.

"Nurses' ability to provide safe, compassionate and effective care depends on their physical and mental health, so they must protect their own well-being through rest, stress management and healthy boundaries," says Blazey, Manager in Occupational Health at Cleveland Clinic.

Click the podcast player above to listen to the episode now, or read on for a short, edited excerpt. Check out more Nurse Essentials episodes at my.clevelandclinic.org/podcasts/nurse-essentials or wherever you get your podcasts.

Podcast excerpt

Podcast host Carol Pehotsky, DNP, RN, NEA-BC:Self-care has always been important, but why is it so critical for nurses, especially today?

Blazey: Nursing itself – the profession – is known for being physically, emotionally and mentally demanding. That's not a secret. I say this in every presentation I give: You have to take care of yourself to be able to take care of others…you’ve got to put yourself first.

It's an outdated way of thinking, but some people have the misconception that it's selfish to prioritize your own wellness. I've even heard people say that self-care is a luxury. I have my family…I have my job…I work 12 hours a day and have a 1-hour commute. I understand all of that, so I often begin by asking, “What are your negotiables? What are your non-negotiables? What habits can make you feel great?”

Once people start working [toward a goal], they see the situation isn’t black and white. [Wellness plans are] very individualized. Once you get into a better routine, you start sleeping better, cutting back on caffeine and drinking more water. Every little bit counts.

You have to start somewhere. Be happy with your progress, and don't beat yourself up if you don't go [to the gym] one day. We all have families and other priorities that are competing for our time.