Maintaining Your Health as an LPN
As a Licensed Practical Nurse, or LPN, you will spend much of your time helping maintain the emotional and physical health of a variety of patients. However, what you may not know is that it will be just as important to maintain your own health. By ignoring your own emotional and physical health, you could put yourself at increased risk of a variety of health issues.
Fortunately, there are many things you can do to ensure your emotional and physical well-being, even if you have an overwhelming work and home schedule. Look at the helpful tips we describe below. You are sure to find that you can easily adjust them into your daily life.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
Maintaining a healthy diet can increase your energy level and reduce your risk to various health issues. This, in turn, can help to combat stress and fatigue. When choosing snacks, be sure to choose such things as nuts, low-fat yogurt or fresh fruit rather than sugary or salty foods. Additionally, instead of drinking high-calorie soft drinks, opt for such drinks as bottled water or 100 percent fruit juice.
Exercise and Watch Your Weight
Obesity can pose a broad range of health issues, including, but not limited to, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and depression. It is therefore important for you to watch your weight and create a daily exercise regime that you are able to handle.
Get Plenty of Uninterrupted Rest
Getting proper rest each day is important for both your emotional and physical health. If at all possible, try to get about eight hours of uninterrupted sleep each day. Furthermore, do what you need to do to provide yourself with an environment that is conducive to sleeping. Depending on your situation, this may include one or more of the following:
- Turning Off Cellphones and TVs
- Playing Quiet, Relaxing Music
- Taking a Warm Bath Prior to Sleeping
- Avoiding Caffeine and Sugar Before Sleeping
- Replacing Regular Curtains with Blackout Curtains
Visit Your Doctor Regularly
While working as an LPN, you may find it difficult to maintain regular appointments with your doctor or dentist. Although you may not want to spend your day off at a doctor's office, it is essential that you do just that. Additionally, it is of the utmost importance that you make sure you are up to date on any necessary vaccinations and your yearly influenza shots.
Learn to Manage Stress Effectively
Maintaining your emotional health is no less important than maintaining your physical health. One of the best ways to ensure emotional health as an LPN is to practice regular and effective stress management techniques. While there are many techniques you can utilize to handle stress, the following methods are some of the best:
- Meditation
- Deep Breathing Exercises
- Visualization
- Creating "Me" Time
- Supportive Social Networks
- Professional Counseling
