Life on the go: Travel Nursing Article
9 Un-Resolutions for 2009

This is the time of year when everyone begins to feel as though they need to make a New Year’s resolution, whether it’s eliminating a bad habit or adding a good one. In fact, statistics have shown 40-45% of American adults make one or more resolutions each year. A lot of times we tend to think we need to change something about ourselves or our behavior, but really why do we need to change anything at all? You’re a travel nurse or allied health professional so you may already be giving up something by moving to a new area without family or doing something new by a taking a travel nurse assignment and seeing the country.

Resolutions always start with the best of intentions, but according to ProactiveChange.com, only about 75% of people are still going strong on their resolutions past the first week. After one month it drops to 64%. Six months in the number falls dramatically and only 46% of people are still sticking with their resolutions. So why not rethink the idea of making a New Year’s resolution and switch it? Here are nine New Year’s Un-Resolutions below to help you get your juices flowing on your very own un-resolution for New Year’s 2009.

Eat more often:
Instead of trying to lose weight with extra workouts or crazy diets just eat more frequent meals. One of the best ways to lose weight is to eat more often and smaller portions. According to ShapeFit.com, you should eat 5 to 6 times a day, with only 2.5 to 3.5 hours between each meal or snack.

Keep drinking caffeine:
Obviously a gallon of coffee a day isn’t good for you, but a cup or two in the morning is actually good for you. According to WebMD.com, researchers at Harvard found that one to three cups of a caffeinated coffee a day can reduce the risk of diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and colon cancer. It may even help manage asthma, stop headaches, boost your mood, and even prevent cavities. Caffeine in low doses is thought to be associated with an improvement in sporting performance, increased alertness and reduction in fatigue, potentially lifting a person’s mood.

Leave your closet a mess:
You’re already busy enough as a travel nurse or allied health professional, so why add a major personality shift to your life. If you are not naturally organized this may be a difficult resolution to keep. Have you ever seen a picture of Einstein’s desk? Sometimes it isn’t about having an organized or unorganized surrounding that is important, instead it is being comfortable in whatever environment you work and live best in.

Don’t start a new exercise program:
The gyms are going to be extremely busy after the New Year because everyone will be trying to do their “New Year’s Resolution.” Instead think about joining a local dance class or try yoga to switch up your routine without doing the same old “start working out again” idea. Otherwise if the thought of those doesn’t excite you, just find a hobby you like, which gives you the physical activity you need while still enjoying yourself.

Spend less time with family:
It doesn’t have to be about spending more time with the ones you love, maybe just making the time you do spend with them of more quality. Whether it is playing Wii, making something, decorating or even watching a movie no matter how busy you are. Just making an effort to see how they are doing or what is new in their lives is enough to show how important they are to you.

Stress out more:
Of course being in a constant state of stress is not good, but some stress is actually good for you. According to an article on MSNBC.com, “Stress is a burst of energy," says psychiatrist Dr. Lynne Tan of Montefiore Medical Center in New York City. "It’s our body telling us what we need to do." Stress can help people perform tasks more efficiently and can improve memory. Good stress is the type of emotional challenge where a person feels in control and provides some sense of accomplishment. It can improve heart function and make the body resistant to infection, experts say. Far from being something we need to eliminate from our lives, good stress stimulates us.

Cook less homemade meals:
You don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen in order to prepare a great meal that everyone will love. There are many options to help you create the perfect meal without spending all the time creating it. One option is Home Bistro.com which says they “ship to every address in the continental United States and Hawaii only excluding Alaska and PO Boxes” and live by their motto, “Live more. Cook less”. You just go to their website, order what you’d like them to send you and then in two-five days you have a great meal prepared with little preparation. Or try companies like Supper Thyme USA where you can pre-assemble meals and pick them up on your way home or have them delivered. And if you feel this isn’t the choice for you, you could always order take out and put it on some fancy plates.

Spend more time on the internet:
You shouldn’t have to give up the internet, just use the internet for a purpose, not just surfing the web. Whether it be creating a blog about something that interests you or making a Facebook page to help keep you in contact with friends and family, the internet can be a good use of time if used for the right purposes. And since you are away from home as a travel nurse or allied health professional you could even use the internet to order your holiday gifts. Have the stores pack, wrap, and send the gifts to your friends and families homes without needing to do the in store shopping and waiting and wrapping.

Quit Learning:
Why worry about making more time for studies? Instead of planning on learning something new, use something you already know and teach a class on that hobby. Many times you learn more by teaching others than you do studying about a new topic. So find your passion and spread your knowledge this New Year. You’ll also be able to get the feeling of giving back to your community by teaching others.

All information contained in this article, on MedicalSolutions.com or in the recommended non-affiliated websites is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any health problem - nor is it intended to replace the advice of a physician. See a physician before starting any exercise program.