As a travel nurse or travel therapist, you spend a great deal of time away from home and caring for others. The rigorous schedules that most assignments require may leave little time to care for yourself and to make sure you're staying healthy. Not only can this lead to excessive weight gain, it can also cause you to feel fatigued and unable to concentrate. If you don't make sure you stay healthy as a travel RN or travel therapist, you may not be able to provide the best patient care you're capable of.
Eating healthy on assignments
You will likely spend long hours on the job during your assignments. It's important for you to fuel your body with the right nutrients throughout each shift. While it may seem convenient to just head over to the local fast food joint on your lunch break and when you're exhausted after a shift, this is doing your mind and body a disservice. Instead, stay full and focused by eating foods like whole grains, fruits, vegetables and lean proteins. These should keep your mind sharp and your waistline slim. Consider bringing your meals with you to work. It might help to dedicate one afternoon to making all the food you'll need for a week.
Staying physically active
The gym isn't always going to be an option while working on an assignment. Therefore, you're going to have to use what's available to stay physically fit and keep your muscles strong. Strength training is important because lean muscles will keep your metabolism going and muscle endurance helps fight fatigue. Pack a few dumbbells so you can perform simple workouts in your apartment and try a few aerobics DVDs. Your apartment is also a great place to practice basic yoga poses and Pilates. Taking a brisk run is also a good way to keep your body strong while also relieving stress.
Rejuvenate
Part of being healthy is knowing when to give your body a break. If you know long shifts are compromising your health, don't be afraid to ask if you can take a short break. Start by getting the rest you need before you start your shift. It might also be beneficial to spend the day at a spa to get a massage or another relaxing treatment in between contracts. This way you will be healthy and restored for your next assignment.