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12 Small Steps to Happiness
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Lisa Guida | Scrubs Magazine
September 17, 2010
As a caregiver you must find a sustainable way to make yourself a priority. Although it may feel counterintuitive at times, making yourself a priority will better allow you to avoid burnout by exercising choices about your own wellness.
A quick way I’ve found that really resonates with nurses is the Wellness Inventory, a series of statements in 12 areas of your life where you can rank your agreement and satisfaction level developed by HealthWorld Online and John W. Travis, MD.
This “moment in time” assessment will allow you to see where you are most motivated to start making some small changes to improve your sense of wellness.
Take the inventory for the 12 areas of your well-being below. Choose an area that you feel motivated to address and consider taking a small step to improve your wellness once a week or even every day.
1. Self-Love and Responsibility
Sample statement: I am able to distinguish between accepting responsibility for a problem and blaming myself.
A small step: Step back and assess the facts before accepting everything on your shoulders.
2. Breathing (one of the energy inputs)
Sample statement: When experiencing stress, I use breathing to help release tension.
3. Eating (one of the energy inputs)
Sample statement: I stop and think about what I’m grateful for before eating.A small step: Take a moment of silence before lunch.
4. Sensing (one of the energy inputs)
Sample statement: I know how my environment can impact my mood.A small step: Start adding more music into your day or some fresh flowers, or a walk in your neighborhood where you focus on seeing the little things that you don’t usually notice.
5. Moving
Sample statement: I do some form of stretching or limbering several times a week.A small step: Stretch in bed before you get up in the morning.
