Fun Ways Nurses Can Treat Themselves During The Busy Winter Months

Wintertime. The time of year when the days are long and your body needs some extra TLC.

For nurses, the winter months can feel hectic, with an increase in sick patients and staffing shortages.

It’s important to amp up the self-care rituals during the colder months. Adjusting to the new season well is crucial if you want to come out of it well taken care of!

Your utmost priority should be to stay healthy during winter.

So, how can nurses treat themselves during the busy winter months?

Here are some self-care tips for wintertime that will add comfort to those draining days.

Contents show

Don’t have time right now? Pin to read later!

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and make a purchase!

Buy real loungewear

There is a huge difference between run-down, raggedy t-shirts/sweats and real loungewear.

For a while, I held on to my “home clothes” for over a decade. High school sports t-shirts, random sweatpants with holes in them…until I discovered the beauty of loungewear sets.

Just because you are home and not being seen in public does not mean you should dress like a well…slob.

Good quality and insanely comfortable loungewear exist for a reason! Not only does it look good, but it makes you feel put together as well.

Invest in some good loungewear to treat yourself this winter season!

Create a cozy home

When you pour love into your home, a lot of you is reflected in it.

Coming home to a space that embodies who you are is going to feel extremely comforting and nurturing.

Create a cozy home the way you want! New colors, textures, and small additions can really spruce up a place.

Don’t know where to start? Block out an hour and start roaming the aisles of Homegoods or a home decor book.

You must figure out what is visually appealing for you before you start changing things up.

Having a cozy home to return to makes the long winter days not feel as terrible.

Schedule frequent pamper sessions

As mentioned before, we all need some extra TLC during the winter months.

As nurses, we are either dealing with an influx of patients, working the holidays, or picking up extra shifts.

Much of the time, all we want to really do is cozy up by a fireplace and sleep. Right?

Well, the next best thing is to schedule frequent pamper sessions. This could mean monthly massages, facials, hair appointments, body scrubs, hot tub sessions, you name it.

Knowing this is a consistent part of your life is going to help your mind relax when in a tense situation.

I currently get monthly facials, and when I’m feeling extra stressed or tired, I like to remind myself about my upcoming facial appointment where I always come out refreshed and feeling anew.

Many of my tips are not instant gratifications but are important to add to your lifestyle for long-term effects.

Make comforting meals

Who doesn’t love a delicious homemade meal that feels like a giant hug? I sure do!

Comfort food is one of my favorite ways to treat myself, especially when I’m feeling down during the winter months.

Not only can the process of cooking feels therapeutic, but reaching the final product and eating it is like winning an award.

Check out my favorite food blogger who shares such wonderful meals and recipes!

Refresh your look

Winter can feel very monotonous. With such great times during the holidays, the rest of the days can feel pretty bleak.

This winter, do one thing to refresh your look.

change up your wardrobe
go for a new hair color or haircut
add a new touch to your typical makeup look

If you’re up for it, do all of them! It can feel so exciting and really give you a boost in mood.

We all know the real work starts from within, but changing up your exterior has some great benefits too.

When you switch up your look, you change your perception of yourself.

It can boost your self-confidence and make you feel like you belong to a higher social class, according to a recent Stanford Graduate School of Business study.

This in turn makes you feel overall good, which is what we’re trying to get to here!

Try a new workout class

Healthcare during the winter can be insane, with flu season, icy conditions, and the holidays being contributors to hospital visits.

As nurses who are on the receiving end, you can easily feel overworked, exhausted, and compassion fatigued.

It’s easy to just feel like a number, being one of the nurses doing what you have to do. A sense of purpose can dwindle and fade in this chaos.

A powerful and effective way to reel yourself back in and gain perspective again is exercising.

Even better- trying out a new workout class.

I do consider this a “treat yourself” moment because you are physically challenging yourself to gain incredible after-effects. That is such a treat if you think about it.

If you’ve been interested in trying out a new type of workout, such as pilates, yoga, or spinning, now’s the best time.

Most people are dormant during this season, but you, my friend, are a force and consistently do things to better your life.

Check out apps like Class Pass or visit local gyms to join a class.

Plan a Spring trip

Nothing gets nurses more excited than upcoming PTO/vacation.

This is the best time to start planning a trip for yourself this Spring. This is you creating that light at the end of the tunnel!

Keep in mind a trip does not have to be extravagant, international, or super lengthy.

It can be as simple as a long weekend to a nearby city, a mini road trip, or even a staycation when you relax with family and friends.

This. is your life and your narrative, so you make the rules! The most important thing is to get something planned so you can look forward to it and treat yourself for all of the hard work.