Monthly Archives: December 2021

Ways to Stress Less This Holiday Season

The holidays are a time of the year when you get to spend several days or even a week or two with your family and close friends. It is a time of giving and of partaking in some of your favorite holiday traditions.

However, there is no denying the fact that the holidays can also present a fair amount of stress. Not only will you likely be spending more than you typically do on things like presents and decorations, but you will also be navigating a jam-packed holiday schedule as you go from one party or gathering to the next.

It can be all too easy to allow yourself to get caught up in the stress of the season instead of all the things there are to enjoy about Christmas. This combined with the fact that you will likely be sleeping less and partaking in some seasonal, albeit less healthy foods and treats, can result in raised levels of cortisol, the stress hormone.

If you are already anticipating the stress of the holiday season and would like to find practical ways of getting back to those things that you love about Christmas, here are a few tips to help you to reduce your stress so as to make your holidays filled only with the joy and merriment of the season.

Get Your Rest

The first thing to bear in mind is the fact that it can be easy to allow something as simple as the amount of sleep that you get at night to fall by the wayside. Generally speaking, a packed holiday schedule can make it harder to get the sleep that you need at night. Moreover, if you are already feeling the stress of the season, then your sleep could already be taking a hit.

The first thing that you should do in order to make such stress easier to deal with is to make sure that you are getting your sleep. You might need to tweak your bedtime routine a bit in order to make it easier for you to fall asleep, but in the end, getting good sleep is one of the best ways to reduce stress.

Bear in mind the fact that different things will work for different people when it comes to getting good sleep. For instance, some people find that CBD oil from simplycbdwales.com helps them to relax for sleep while others swear by a stretching routine to help them prepare for the night.

Take the time to find the things that work for you so that you can get the sleep that you need this holiday season.

Create a Holiday Budget

By and large, one of the most stressful aspects of the holidays involves the amount of spending that tends to happen. In order to avoid spending more than is good for you on presents and events this Christmas, make sure that you create a holiday budget for yourself. This can help you to curb your spending and ensure that you don’t break the bank on the festivities this Christmas.

What Are The Most Rewarding Things About Being A Nurse?

Everyone knows that nursing is a rewarding career path to choose. We are told this, it’s expected, and it’s something anyone who is not a nurse can see in the abstract – nursing must be rewarding because you’re helping people. However, if you are a nurse, you’ll know there is a lot more to it than that, and if you are thinking of becoming a nurse, then it’s crucial to understand the real intricacies that make this such a rewarding profession to go into. With all that in mind, read on to find out some of the most rewarding aspects of being a nurse.

Listening To Patients

Nurses need to have a number of crucial ‘soft skills’ and personality traits if they are going to do well and help their patients as much as possible. One of these skills is the ability to listen. This doesn’t just mean listening to what a patient has wrong with them and understanding a list of symptoms and how to help with the pain and discomfort they bring, and this is perhaps a surprising thing to learn, although it does make a lot of sense when you think about it.

Nurses need to really listen to what their patients have to say. Of course, this might – and probably will – include symptoms, as we’ve mentioned above, but it will also include a lot more. Sometimes patients need to talk to help themselves. They need to unburden themselves or talk to relieve stress, or they simply want to talk because they are lonely and scared. Maybe they just like chatting with new people. No matter what, it’s a nurse’s job to listen to the patient, even if the story they are telling doesn’t seem to be important. It’s important to the patient, and that’s what matters.

Why is this rewarding? When you listen to what a patient tells you, you can treat them more accurately – this is the practical aspect. However, listening to their stories will learn a lot about them and maybe also about you – you’ll certainly learn something new. This is all incredibly rewarding.

Working As Part Of A Team

Another rewarding aspect of being a nurse is the fact that there is a lot of teamwork involved. Even when nurses are technically working alone, there is always a large team of colleagues to help out when needed.

When you work in a close team as you do when you are a nurse, you need never be afraid of not knowing what to do. No one knows everything, and when you have others around you, you can all bounce ideas off one another and come up with excellent solutions to help your patients in the best possible way.

Teamwork is clearly an important part of being a nurse, and it means you’ll form strong bonds with others; after all, how could it be otherwise when you are in life or death situations, as will be the case when you are nursing? The point is teamwork is something that makes everything much better, more enjoyable, and ultimately more rewarding. It’s like having a safety net behind you, allowing you to do so much more for yourself and your patients.

Potential Progression

There is just as much potential progression in the field of nursing as there is in other sectors, it’s just that not many people know about this, or they assume it’s not the case. However, it is true; you can start your career as an RN (registered nurse) and move on to work in more specific areas, at higher levels, or both of these things. As long as you are willing to work hard, study (often back at school for additional qualifications), and research exactly what it is you want to do with your life, then the potential for progression is there, ready for you to take it when you want it. The more you can do in your nursing career, the more rewarding it’s going to be.

Some people don’t start their nursing careers until later in life. They will realize that what they are currently doing is not rewarding enough for them, and they’ll start to look into other avenues; nursing may well appeal. Once they decide this is what they want to do, it’s possible to start at a higher level if they take the correct courses, such as a non nursing degree to BSN online, which will help them greatly. They can also then move forward from here should they want to. So, nursing can offer progression to everyone, no matter when they start or what level they start at – this is highly rewarding for all.

Teaching Others

The world of nursing and healthcare is constantly changing. This is because new ideas and technology are always being thought of and implemented, and that’s a good thing – the further forward we can push medicine, the healthier we can all be for much longer.

When you are a nurse, one of the rewarding aspects of the job is to keep learning these new things and use them in the right way. However, if you can then also teach this new technique or piece of information to others, then it becomes even more rewarding. It’s crucial to be able to pass on information when you’re a nurse, as this means that everyone has the same chance of doing well, and every patient has the same chance of having their condition dealt with quickly and accurately.

As we’ve said, teamwork is a big part of nursing, and when it comes to learning new things, it’s just as important. When you work in a team, and everyone is educating everyone else about new things they have seen, read, or been taught themselves, it makes the work much easier and the outcomes much more positive.

Making A Difference

Finally, it’s important to know that nurses make a difference in so many people’s lives. They can go to work every day knowing that they will make something good happen and that they can feel good about themselves too.

In some jobs, people will go to work, do what is asked of them, and go home again and not make an impact. This is not something that worries everyone; as long as they are paid and can pay the bills, they are happy.

For some, however, this is not enough. They want to know they have made a difference, and they want to see the results of this first hand. Nursing will offer you this, and therefore it is clearly one of the most rewarding careers possible.

How To Increase Your Credit Score

Are you thinking of purchasing a house? Are you in need of a new vehicle? If so, you might need to apply for a loan. Buying a car or a house in cash can be expensive, and most people do not have the money to do so. Therefore, you might need to work with a lender. The lender will likely check your credit score before they decide to give you a loan. If you want to get the lowest interest rate possible, you need to maximize your credit score. Furthermore, if your score is too low, you might be denied outright. What can you do to increase your credit score?

Pay Your Bills on Time

If you want to increase your credit score, the most important thing you need to do is pay your bills on time. Bills include your phone, cable, internet, electricity, water, and gas. If you pay late, the company could report you to the major credit bureaus. Late and missed payments can lower your credit score. On the other hand, paying on time can maximize your score.

Pay Down More of Your Existing Debt

The lender will also take your debt-to-income ratio into account. Having too much debt could reduce your credit score, making it harder for you to qualify for a loan. For example, having large student loans doesn’t look good to the credit reporting agencies. Before applying for a new loan, you need to pay down more of your existing debt.

Lengthen Your Credit History

The longer your credit history is, the higher your credit score will be. If your credit history is too short, there might not be enough information for the major credit bureaus to work with. As a result, your credit score may be low even if you are financially stable. Taking out a credit card at a young age is good practice to get a head start on your credit history. If you have children, you can co-sign for them to help them build credit.

Correct Any Inaccuracies on Your Credit Report

Check your credit report once per year — you get a free one from the major bureaus every year. There may be lots of people with the same name, and someone else’s financial issues could end up on your credit report. If you don’t check yours before applying for a loan, it might be too late to correct the mistakes, and you could be stuck with a bad score.

Always Check Your Credit Score Before Applying for a Loan

These are a few of the easiest ways you can increase your credit reputation. It may take some time to raise your score, but a higher number could make it easier for you to apply for a mortgage or car loan. According to Equifax, a good credit score starts at 670. If you can reach that or better, you’ll be able to qualify for improved loan terms and reduce your interest rate. This could make your dream house more affordable.