Mind Body connection with 4 B.A.G.S.

Mind Body Connection Simple with 4 B.A.G.S.



Have you ever sat in a restaurant or a coffee shop with music on? Who in the coffee shop do you see actually moving to the music? The children are moving, so are the elderly. Not the middle aged responsible people. That would look ridiculous. Well, the children and the elderly may possess something adults have been trained to forget, the mind body connection. The most natural thing in the world to do is move your body to the rhythm of music. Connecting the mind and thoughts to the body is a concept for enhancing self care. Connecting the mind and the body can help decrease Compassion Fatigue and has multiple benefits for improving the quality of life.

There are many ways to reach the mind body connection. From classes in Yoga, or Tai Chi to dance classes, music classes, art classes, massage, playing a sport, engaging in sex, or exercise for 20 minutes or more three times a week on a regular basis.

Just a second, how does a nurse fit one more thing into her schedule and lifestyle?
4 simple ways to reach a mind body connection in a lifestyle of a nurse who may
Have a time commitment with family, education, rotating shifts and multiple jobs?
This article presents five ways to connect the mind with the body. Creation of this level of awareness of the mind and body can release work stress and create a focus
for life outside of the job. Awareness of the mind body connection may prevent you from mentally taking work home.



Breathe. Take a deep breath into the belly area, expanding the belly area and breathe as much as the air out as possible. Better yet, breathe through the nose and slowly out through the mouth. ( like perslip breathing). Do this during your day as often as you
Remember. Eckhart Tolle suggests deep breathing takes us out of our minds and into our bodies.
“Start your day with a deep cleansing breathe before getting out of bed. Breathe a fully belly breath when you step out of bed and stand on the floor. Stretch and connect with all parts of your body just by bringing them into your awareness. If you have achey parts, just breath into them and recognize them. Thank your body for the job it does without you having to think about it.” READ ARTICLE BOOT CAMP FOR NURSES I BREATHING



Acknowledge You have given the care of your patients over to another nurse. Nursing is 24 hours. Quickly list your successes during a shift. For example, helping a coworker, listening to a patient, assessing a medical shift in a patient and preventing a downturn. What went right during the shift? How did you assist a coworker or teach a new RN something ? What agreement did you reach with your manager? What was the best part of your shift? After this 2-3 minute process of reviewing the shift mentally, let it go.


Gratitude: List mentally 5-10 things that occurred during the shift that you are grateful for. For example the ventilators seldom alarmed on your patients. There was plenty of staff to cover the unit, your supervisor was available to help out. Grateful for the nurse relieving your position? Then take your focus of gratitude to your personal life. List 5-10 things you are grateful for in your life. For example, your kids and spouse are healthy, you bring home a good paycheck.

Stretch. Back injuries and the number one nursing injury according to the Department of Labor Statistics. If fitting a formal Yoga class is not in your schedule, get a Yoga CD that you enjoy and start your day with the disk. Stretching enhances muscle tone and releases tension. Completing a Yoga routine every other day for three weeks may give you results of strengthening. Exercise for strengthening the Core muscles, muscles of back and abdomen can be done in other ways as well. Nursing on your feet for 8 hours or greater, you need the core muscles that are strengthened by Yoga or exercise to support your movement of patients and heavy equipment around the unit while protecting your back.


NOTE:
When a shift occurs that you dealt with patient trauma, life and or death and things on the unit were unusually intense recognize when you need to talk out the shift with a friend, spouse, co-worker or supervisor. As thoughts of patients creep back into your mind, let each one go like a Helium filled balloon.

Taking these 4 steps using B.A.G.S to experience the mind body connection may bring an increase of balance in your life and professionalism. By listening to the body and having awareness of changes increases your awareness to yourself and those around you. Focused Breathing, Stretching,, Acknowledgement and Gratitude connect you with your mind, body and core energy.

For more information read Boot Camp for Nurses Series.

Copyright 2009-2011, Works of AnnChristine Warneka, BSN,RN
AnnChristine BSN,RN works as a Medical Consultant. Offering seminars on Compassion Fatigue, FLEX the NCLEX™, Life Ownership, Boot Camp for Nurses™. She lives and works in Phoenix, AZ Visit her blogg site Nurseguardian@blogspot.com or contact her email: nurseguardian@gmail.com. Phone: 602-516-6800.
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