Healthcare Travelers: Get Your Best Night's Sleep with These Tips
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- •January 25, 2023
Tips for Sleeping Well as a Travel Nurse or Allied Clinician
A good night's sleep is vital to your health and well-being as a travel nurse or allied clinician. With the ability to improve your mood, health, and brain performance, maximizing your sleep should be your top priority on assignment. Use the tips below to help catch some well-deserved Zs! Do you have insights into getting your best rest as a travel nurse? DM us on Instagram!
Maintain a Sleep Schedule
On traveling health assignments, maintaining a schedule can take a lot of work. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, going to sleep at the same time every day helps to reinforce your body's sleep-wake cycle, allowing you to get sufficient rest. Set a realistic bedtime and stick to it! If you need to adjust over time, gradually change your schedule by 1-2 hours per night.
Embrace the Darkness
Too much light can disrupt your circadian rhythm and hinder your ability to get a good night's sleep. Finding a pair of blackout curtains will help block out the light, perfect for night shift nurses or allied clinicians. Even a good sleep mask will assist in creating a better night's sleep.
Turn off the Screens
We all love our phones, laptops, and tablets, but to get our best sleep, we need to put them down before trying to fall asleep. According to the CDC, these devices emit blue light, making falling and staying asleep difficult. You can create a more productive sleep environment by making your bedroom a screen-free room. If you need to use your mobile devices while in bed, enable nighttime screen mode or manually lower the brightness to decrease eye strain.
Find Time to Exercise
Research shows that physical activity helps improve sleep for several reasons, including relieving stress and anxiety and tiring you out. According to the Cleveland Clinic, exercise at any time of the day can be beneficial to getting quality sleep. Are you looking for some tips on keeping up your fitness routine as a travel nurse or allied clinician?
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Clear Your Mind
Providing quality patient care can be stressful, and unplugging from work after your travel nurse or allied healthcare shift can be challenging. Meditation decreases cortisol levels, which often contributes to stress. Finding time to unwind through meditation or other relaxation techniques can ease your mind and better prepare you for a good night's sleep. Many apps are available to guide you through various relaxation techniques, such as Calm or Headspace. YouTube even has a vast selection of helpful videos, ranging from guided meditation to white noise.
Invest in your Bedding
We all know traveling light as a travel nurse is critical; however, you must create a comfortable space for rest. Whether a high-quality pillow or your comfiest sheets, creating a pleasant bedtime experience will improve your sleep and help you feel more at home.