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When you work as an STNA, your focus is on taking care of others. Working in health care in general, requires a lot of give and not a lot of take. Caring for others’ physical and emotional needs is a great and rewarding way to make a living. However, you need to make sure you’re also taking care of yourself in the process.

Burn out can happen in any career but is especially relevant to careers in health care. It’s important that as you begin or continue your work as an STNA, you learn to take proper care of yourself so that you can bring your best to your job. Here are a few tips on how you can stay healthy when working as an STNA.

Get Enough Exercise
Exercise is not only good for your body; it’s also a great stress reliever for your mind. If you’re new to exercising, start our slow and try different kinds to find something that you enjoy. Consider walking, riding your bike, or yoga. Anything that gets your blood pumping will contribute to better health and improved mental clarity. If you’re more experienced, try changing up your routine or try a new form of exercise to challenge yourself.

Take Care of Your Emotions
We all have bad days every now and again, but if you find that you’re feeling down more than up, take some time to evaluate why. Are you focusing too much on the negative things in life? Are you feeling overworked or stressed out? Check in with yourself regularly to make sure your emotions are not causing you to grief or undue stress. If you need to talk to someone, call up a friend or a trusted mentor and talk things through with them.

Choose Healthier Foods
The foods that we eat can and do affect our health and the way that we feel. Make sure you’re choosing whole foods, such as lean meats, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables over highly processed snack foods. While processed foods are convenient, they are often packed with artificial ingredients and do not provide your body with the nutrition it needs. Do your best to avoid alcohol, caffeine, and foods that are high in fat and sugar. These foods will only make you feel bad and do not have any health promoting properties.

Get Plenty of Rest
Depending on your schedule and where you choose to work, working as an STNA can mean that you work odd hours. While it can be difficult to get quality sleep, it’s vital to your health and your mood. If you work night shifts and have trouble sleeping during the day, try black-out curtains and make sure your room is cool and quiet. If you work a normal schedule but still can’t sleep, establishing a nightly ritual may help calm your mind and provide more restful sleep.

Follow these tips to make sure you’re taking care of yourself, as much as you take care of others. Being an STNA can be challenging, but the job will feel easier and much more rewarding when you feel that you are taking care of yourself in the process.

If you’re ready to start training to become an STNA, Premier Choice Health Services offers classes that work with your schedule. Fill out our online application today to get started.