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5 Fitness Tips for Busy Nurses

Nursing duties can be physically demanding, including carrying heavy objects, helping reposition, transport, and lift patients, and standing for extended periods without taking breaks. Most nurses often work long shifts between ten and twelve hours, which can be mentally and physically taxing, resulting in burnout. Nurses’ shifts usually change from week to week, making it challenging to stick to a workout schedule and consistent sleep patterns.

These intensive work shifts can affect nurses’ mental and physical health. However, keeping fit can help prevent burnout, reduce stress, improve the cardiovascular system, and prevent diseases and injury. Here are five fitness tips for busy nurses.

1. Create a workout schedule

Considering how busy nurses can be, finding time for regular workouts can be challenging. Nurse work shifts alone can be demanding, and combining them with further studies can make their schedules even tighter. A workout schedule can help nurses plan a fitness program they can easily stick to. It’s an excellent way to remain fit while gaining various mental and physical benefits.

A good workout schedule should be tailored to suit your needs precisely. When creating a fitness program, determine your goals, pick activities you’ll enjoy, schedule exercise time, include varying activities, and allow recovery time. A professional physical trainer can help custom-make a workout program suitable for your needs.

2. Get enough sleep

While staying active is essential, sleep is crucial for your exercise. Sleep allows your body to conserve energy, recover, and build and repair the muscles you worked during physical activities. Additionally, the well-rested you are, the better your body and mind will function. Without sufficient sleep, your workouts won’t deliver the desired fitness results. If you have insomnia, CBD products from Spiritleaf Oshawa can help you fall and remain asleep.

3. Set fitness goals

Making lifestyle changes, such as exercising, isn’t easy. However, setting fitness goals gives you something to work towards, measures how you’re doing, and motivates you to remain on track. Nurses should set realistic fitness goals to keep them motivated and focused when trying to become physically fit. When setting fitness goals, know your ultimate objective, find out how you’ll attain your ultimate goal, track your progress regularly, set small, particular mini-goals, and adapt to changing situations.

4. Sign up for group workout classes

Group fitness involves exercise programs done with others and is usually directed by instructors. Group exercise gives you social support and eliminates guesswork from your workouts. Nurses can significantly benefit from group fitness classes’ direction and accountability because there are certified instructors, set schedules, and people to exercise with. These classes usually add variety to your workouts, preventing boredom and improving results. When looking for a group fitness class, pick a time you can easily stick to, ensure a safe environment, and ascertain that your instructor is certified.

5. Find a workout partner

Working out alone or creating time to exercise can be difficult for busy nurses. Staying consistent can be even more difficult. Finding an exercise partner, such as a fellow busy nurse, to work out with can help keep you accountable, ensuring you don’t skip your sessions and avoiding excuses. Working out with a friend keeps you more consistent, motivates you, enables you to stick to your fitness goals, and makes it easier to keep trying new things.