balancing work & family for nurses

BALANCING WORK & FAMILY Presented By: Sandra M. Schiff, Ph.D.

“ I’m expecting child number two and currently have a seven-year-old. In order

to continue to be a devout mother and spend as much time as possible with the

children, I’ll only work six hours a day so I can continue to pick up the seven-year-old

from school”


“For a single mother of two teenagers, working full time makes life really hard, I am trying to keep what is left of my family together and this place wants more and

more from me.”


Statistics Typical family puts in a thousand more hours a

year than 25 years ago. Over 8 million people hold down two or more

jobs. Working mothers spend an average of two hours

more each weekday and three hours more on weekends caring for their children and the house.


Overwhelmed…..Overworked??

Take this moment to reflect on the quality of your family life……..

What are you goals?? What brings you and your family personal

fulfillment?


Tips to help you balance your life.. De-stress- what are you stressors? Simplify - prioritize Play – read, build legos, drink a cup of tea Share the load – everyone in the household can help

out. Slow down – have realistic expectations of yourself

& others.


Nurture yourself – one way of relieving stress

Stop procrastinating – avoidance takes more energy than actually doing it

Focus on the positive – what do you have to be grateful for?

Take charge – plan ahead.


Finding a balance in your life is a ongoing process – not an event…allow yourself

time to reassess, be kind to yourself!


Now we have a sense of how we balance our work & family..

Let’s discuss a few de-stress techniques: Relaxation Nutrition Exercise Reframing Changing Negative Self-talk


Ways to Get into the Alpha-State Meditation Biofeedback Progressive muscle relaxation


Relaxation What do you need?

A quiet place A good attitude towards relaxation 20 minutes uninterrupted


Typical American Diet Sugar Fat Fried Foods Caffeine Deplete our energy


High Energy Foods Fruits Vegetables Grains Legumes Non-meat protein (fish & fowl)


Ways to Increase Physical Activity Walk during break Park your car further Exercise while watching TV Other thoughts?


Attitude

We cannot change our past..we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We

cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that

is our attitude..I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you..we are in charge of our

attitudes.


Reframing – powerful way of helping de-stress. Situation Initial Reaction Possible Change Learn to think our way through stress rather

than react (feelings)


Do you hear your negative self-talk? Being critical of ourselves Turning a minor fault into a big problem

We have to learn to record a new tape…


Every time you hear a negative self-message play in your mind, erase it, put a positive one in it’s place… Examples???


“

“Our journey in life defines exactly who we are..Prioritize your life, your thoughts are

powerful. Create a mental picture of exactly what you want in your life..use

that as your roadmap…take control and enjoy your life…”

balancing work & family for nurses

Healthcare

energybalancing work

schoolbalancing work

family life

statisticstypical family

family personal fulfillment

destress techniques

good attitude

quiet place