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Eat healthy, exercise and sleep. Good advice, but
difficult to implement and even more difficult to maintain.
To prove the point, several close colleagues who recently
lost weight through Weight Watchers encouraged me to
give it a try. Well, before the holidays, I had lost
25 pounds, and after a brief "holiday vacation,"
I am back on the wagon.
In fact, I have a little chart staring at me from my
desk that has me scheduled to lose another 50 pounds
before I hit a significant birthday this summer. In
other words, I have a lot of work ahead of me. My trips
to the gym will need to increase in frequency and I
haven't even attempted to address the sleep thing. I
can focus on only so much at a time.
It's amazing how much better you can feel with fewer
pounds on board. But taking time to care for ourselves
is not easy. It takes focus and resolve-and a little
well-earned selfishness. This is especially true when
you are far more accustomed to directing your attention
toward others.
As nurses, we have been generous with our attention
and care to others, to work the extra shift or weekend,
and do a double-back for a sick colleague. The toll
that our demanding work life takes on us personally
is something we have to confront. Given what we know
as nurses, it's embarrassing that we do what we know
we shouldn't and don't do what we know we should.
I commend employers whose value for employee well-being
has been put to action by providing health promotion
services within the workplace. Gyms, cafeterias that
serve healthy food (open for the night shift) and employee-sensitive
scheduling patterns all translate into important messages
to employees about the value and responsibility of optimizing
health.
As a profession, our stereotypical image does not strike
me as a sterling example of good health and good fitness.
Although I could talk about how hypocritical we might
seem to patients as we try to coach and educate them
on their lifestyle habits, I won't point out the obvious.
Let's all just resolve to help each other out by being
better role models for health. Like the dear colleagues
who helped me with Weight Watchers, find ways to help
yourself and your co-workers work toward a healthier
2003.
Let me just leave you with a challenge. If you see
an opportunity to improve your health this year, why
don't you just go for it? We can work on this together.
Assess where you are on the health continuum. Are you
fit and healthy? What are your personal goals, and how
can your employer and colleagues help you out? You may
be surprised at how cost-effective it is for your employer
to make an investment in employee health and fitness.
You know: fewer sick calls, back injuries and workers
compensation claims.
I will keep you updated on my progress, and you can
send me an e-mail with yours. Ready, set, go!
Discuss this and other topics with your colleagues
at www.nurseweek.com/rnvillage
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