Making resolutions and then keeping up with them the whole year can be exhausting for everyone.
But for travel nurses, it may be a lot harder and stressful.
For this new year, you really NEED to make your resolutions and plan out everything beforehand to make your travel nursing more enjoyable and exciting.
All you need to do is take baby steps, be confident and persistent, have patience, and believe in yourself.
This article is just the right place to get a perfect outline of how you should plan things to carry them out consistently without getting bored.
Things Every Travel Nurse Should Do to Prepare for The New Year
Already got resolutions? Great!
But guess what?
I’ve got some more cool ideas and resolutions to make your travel nursing experience awesome!
Make A Schedule
Being a travel nurse, you already have a very hectic routine. There are a billion tasks you have to carry out at one instant. Everything is messed up, and you just can’t figure out how to sort out things and manage your time.
As a travel nurse, you need to prepare for the new year to work smarter, not more challenging. The best way out is to make a schedule. Pre-plan each and everything you have to do. Make lists – arrange everything according to your top priorities to the least ones. Assign a specified time to be spent on each task.
And yes, making a schedule doesn’t only include your work-related duties. It also refers to your everyday chores. For instance, cooking, laundry, cleaning, and anything else that requires a significant portion of your day. You need to take out time for everything, after all.
Get into Shape.
Out of all people, you know the best how important is it to stay fit and healthy. But of course, this erratic routine won’t let you do that.
I understand how exhausting it may be to take out time for working out. The same goes the case for focusing on a healthy diet.
But a compromise on health is NOT acceptable in any case. So, I’m gonna put forward some fun things you should add to your lifestyle in 2021. These will help you maintain a healthy routine and your emotionally and physically straining travel nurse routine.
- Join fitness classes. This will help you to get regular without letting down your routine mid-way.
- Eat healthily – cook yourself a balanced diet.
- Keep track of your calorie intake and exercise goals through fitness applications.
Start Saving
Want to go on your “dream” holiday? Or buy that one most favorite item which has always been out of your budget?
You probably think that this isn’t a possibility. But let’s make it happen this new year.
So, what you basically have to do is start adding money to a savings account. You’ll be surprised at the amount you will able to collect by the end of the year.
Secondly, you should start shopping smartly. There are two ways how you can do that:
- Shop from places where you can find cheaper versions of branded products.
- Wait for holiday discounts and clearance sales. You’ll get to buy luxury items at affordable prices.
But what about the expenses of travel nursing itself?
Here’s some excellent news: you can save even while travel nursing. One of the best ways to do so is to choose a cheap city to live in. This will help you cut off on residence costs.
Update Your Resume
Each day you grow. You learn new skills after each assignment.
But the question is, how will the hiring agencies know what new things you’ve learned?
Yes. This is precisely why you need to update and refresh your resume. But that obviously requires a fair amount of time. So, take my suggestion: add this as a top priority goal to your 2021 resolutions now!
As a travel nurse, this is one of the most important things you need to do to prepare for the new year. After all, the applicant with the best resume gets the best assignment with the highest pay.
Expand your social circle
Travel nursing involves moving to different cities all the time. This means that you don’t have any permanent colleagues.
You frequently have to introduce yourself to new people. And so, there’s a low chance of getting the contract you’ve always wished for.
For this purpose, you have to make networks wherever you go. You can do this through your assignment coworkers, social media friends, and joining nursing organizations related to your field.
So, while preparing for the new year as a travel nurse, the aim of building your connections will help you land on the best opportunities for sure.
Build A Healthy Atmosphere at Your Workplace
One of the things you should do as a travel nurse to prepare for the new year is to make the aim of winning hearts and cheering up people around you.
This goal can be achieved by pretty much anyone; why did I specifically mention travel nurses? Because you are the ones who meet patients every day. Patients who are hopeless and depressed. Making such people happy is considered to be an outstanding achievement.
There are a ton of ways you can do that.
The slightest gesture can be of great help. It can be a handshake, helping out someone, or even just a smile!
You can bring bouquets to your patients or small presents for the new year. Conversate with them and make cards for them with unique words to make them feel valued.
Why Do Travel Nurses Need to Prepare for The New Year?
Up till now, this article has suggested some interesting things every travel nurse should do to prepare for the new year. But why exactly do you have to do that?
The thing is that every single person, whether a nurse or not, has to physically and emotionally prepare themselves for everything. This is the only way that you can achieve something great. Planning, preparing, and working hard is the key to success.
Here’s another important reason why you have to do so: suppose you don’t realize why you’re making goals and striving to achieve them. Don’t you think you’d lose interest and motivation? Of course, you would.
Here are a few reasons behind your resolutions that will keep you motivated:
- Why do you have to be kind? It will bring you mental peace, satisfaction, and contentment.
- Why do you have to read journals? It will enhance your learning and make you stand out.
- Why should you find a new mentor? This will help you improve by identifying your strengths and weaknesses.
- Why should you save money? To gain long-term career success by making an investment in the future.
You Have to Go Easy on Yourself – Don’t Forget!
As every year, you probably think that you might lose motivation and drop all your resolutions within a week.
The best way is to start off with simple and convenient tasks. Do the ones you can think are easy for you to do. Take small steps every day. And keep in mind that even a single step (no matter how insignificant it may seem) takes you closer to your aim. It helps you grow.
Let yourself focus on quality rather than quantity when you begin. That’s how you can keep yourself going with the spirit you have on day 1.
And yes, you should prepare for the new year to take out time for yourself. For these entire 12 months, you’ve been busy taking care of other people. This New Year, you should spend one whole day with yourself. Watch movies, go for a massage, take a hot bath, or just lie around and chill.
And not to mention, but you have to make sure to take out time for yourself all year round. Give time to housing needs, go for walks, read books, or do anything you like to.
Try to add your goals into your routine. This will help you achieve them quickly. But you know what? This will also make it a lot easier to find time for things that make you happy. What can be better than that, huh?
FAQs related to Things That Travel Nurses Should Do to Prepare for The New Year
New Year Resolutions is an extensive topic. You probably still have unanswered questions about the goals and aims you should make to prepare for the New Year. Let’s talk a bit more about it in this FAQ section.
How Do I Prepare for Travel Nursing for New Year?
Preparing for New Year (especially as a travel nurse) may be pretty fun yet tiring. The best way you can prepare is to create a list of everything you want to achieve.
Are you a new grad? Your aim will be to apply to as many jobs as possible.
Have you gained a one-year-experience and want to start travel nursing? You will aim to look for the cheapest and most convenient areas to apply for.
Want to grow further in your travel nursing? Your aim should be to focus on learning and trying to land on your dream assignments.
Patience and perseverance is the name of the game!
Which Specialties Should I Aim to Focus on this New Year?
The hiring agencies always consider applicants with the best skills. This means you should try to focus on learning new and the most valued skills. These may include Labour and Delivery, Critical Care, Operating room RN, and Med Surg.
To do so, you can attend short-course seminars and professional programs or read journals.
Conclusion
Your resolutions don’t have to be perfect. But this year, you have to make sure that you list down all your goals and stay on top of them till the last day of 2021.
Take inspiration from the things that every travel nurse should do to prepare for the New Year from this article. Then, whether big or small, just keep making an effort!
By the end of the year, you will witness a new yet better version of yourself.
