From Nurse Burnout To Balance: How To Use Affirmation Cards To Support Your Mental Wellness (Yes, Seriously)
You might be thinking, affirmation cards? Seriously? But stick with me here until the end, there’s some serious nurse love wrapped up in this post.
Amid my era of nurse burnout and cyclical exhaustion, if this was offered to me as a solution, I probably would’ve been thinking that using affirmation cards to stabilize my mental wellbeing was some far fetched version of reality. I can honestly say though that using a variety of different affirmation type cards to reflect on life and my inner landscape has changed my life entirely. It’s literally poured energy into me all while the rest of life seemed to be pulling energy out of me.
Hear me out.
If it can have such a profound impact on me and my mental wellbeing, I absolutely have no doubt it can for you, too. This post is all about how to make that happen for yourself.
Nurses are complicated humans in all the best ways.
There is an undeniably gorgeous depth to your soul that runs deeper than most, and you have a perspective on life that is unique. It hosts its own world of challenges. The thing is, even if you’re very much aware of this depth and feeling it day to day, you know it’s not really something other people in your life can really, truly grasp. Nurses rarely, if ever talk about this side of themselves.
It’s not because you don’t want to share it (maybe you try), but it’s not really something anyone outside of nursing can really understand. Nor could you expect them to, right? It’s because as much as you can explain what it is you do, what you went through on that hard day and how you’re feeling, there’s no grasping the enormity of it (and it’s impact), unless they’re in the trenches, doing what you do with you on a daily basis. For that matter, nurses don’t really talk to each other about it either – this leaves a lot left unspoken, and a lot on your heart.
Your Unique Nurse Blueprint
I always tried to share what I went through with people close to me – I’m a heart on your sleeve kind of person myself. But what I’ve learned through battling exhaustion and nurse burnout is that sharing and actually processing are two entirely different things.
There came a time where the enormity of my souls weight hit me all at once. It’s interesting I’m using the words soul and weight at the same time – because when I think of a soul, I think of something sort of perfect and not something that ever would have the capacity to “weigh you down.” But as you know, the life of a nurse is just different in so many ways. It asks SO much of your entire being every single day… and over time, when you’re not careful about how you’re replenishing and expending your energy stores, or how you process the harder aspects of your work, you begin to internalize and store your experiences deep within yourself and unbeknownst to you, they get trapped.
You were born to handle everything you’re up against as a nurse, don’t get me wrong. But you’re never expected to carry it ALL at once. Ever. So the lack of acknowledging and letting go carries a certain level of weight that eventually will catch up to you in the form of fatigue, cynicism, energy depletion, and burnout.
None of this is your fault.
The thing is, as a nurse you’re never really taught how to acknowledge the weight of what you do. Over time it becomes second nature to absorb which is great – but second nature doesn’t negate how your mind, body & spirit are carrying what you bear witness to every day.
Each patient, each set of circumstances, each tragedy, each miracle, each hard day are seen by your inner being as the individual events that they are. This can leave you with a whole lot of baggage to carry around.
Taking a brief moment to reflect where you are in your nursing career – the beginning, somewhere in the middle, towards the end, or even retired… how many moments has this been for you? How many moments, how many patients, how many families and their circumstances have you had your heart wrapped up in?
During my years in hospice work, I had a nurse educator tell me something that really stuck. She explained that nursing is like walking through water… you can try your hardest to walk through and not get wet, but it’s impossible. One day, you’ll wake up realizing you’re completely drenched.
I think what she means by this is, no matter what, you’re always going to be affected by your work; no matter how much you are unconscious of it, compartmentalize or feel as though you’re just keeping your head down and doing your job, you’re bound to get wet.
From Nurse Burnout To Balance
I’m a sucker for anything that helps me to figure out and understand more about myself, my relationships, my purpose and the world around me. What about you?
Anything that can point me in the right direction or make me feel more connected to the part I’m playing here in this life on Earth intrigues me. Maybe it’s the fact that like you, as a nurse, I am faced with my own mortality every day – and getting any insight into the bigger picture is just helpful.
Cards that help you reflect or affirm where you’re at can really help with that.
I started to incorporate using different types of cards in my morning routine as an effort to help myself shed some of the “weight of the world” feeling off my shoulders. I was tired, feeling so burned out and just wanted to start feeling better. (I talk about these small little morning moments and how innately powerful you, as a nurse are when it comes to healing yourself in this post).
Naturally, I had my favorite decks that would be my morning go-to. I’d spend 5-10 minutes out of my day to contemplate a bit about life, where my head and heart were at, and eventually started to reflect even more in a journal about what came up. I started this daily routine around 8 years ago and to this day, I still do this.
Healing Through The Cards
There’s something about using reflective, affirmative cards that is over time, so healing. I can’t say exactly whether it’s the cards themselves or the time out you’re drawn to take when you become accustom to using them. I think it’s a combination of both.
You’re forced (by your own will of course), to just stop and gain another perspective for a moment. As a nurse, you have a zillion thoughts running through your head all the time. Whether you’re at work and they’re directly related to your mile long to-do list or you’re at home, your mind is a busy one and for good reason. Sometimes this can create a sort of tunnel vision that keeps you stuck in the same cyclical patterns, for better or for worse. I found myself stuck in this cycle for a lot of years and couldn’t figure out how to escape… until I started to open myself to another perspective.
What I love about gaining perspective through a deck of cards is that you can do so safely in your own surroundings. You don’t need to wear your heart on your sleeve for the world to see if that’s not you; you’re in the comfort of your own home. You’re figuring it out and fumbling around and it’s between you and your journal pages. There’s no one to answer to, to compare yourself to or to impress.
You may be wondering what types of cards I’m referring to exactly. The type of card isn’t really what matters, but should be a deck that you’re drawn to. One that speaks to you in some way.
The Nurse’s Soul Deck
After so many years of using different card decks I had it on my heart to create my own deck, but rather than create it just for anyone, make it specific for nurses. There is so much depth to a nurse’s heart and soul…and one would never know or be able to understand what that journey is like unless you’re walking it or have walked it. You are unique, with an incredible purpose. You deserve to feel seen, heard and supported beyond measure so that you can in turn continue to do the same at work and at home.
So that’s what I did, I created a deck that “gets nurses.”
The deck is designed to be used just like any other deck, a few minutes each day, with intention. It’s designed to motivate you, to inspire you and to make you feel understood.
When I crafted the deck, I set out to think of as many aspects of a nurse that I could. There are 30 cards, 30 aspects, and 30 reflections that I hope will be felt by nurses now and for years to come. You can grab it in my shop here.
I Didn’t Really Need Healing
I didn’t. I didn’t really need to be “healed.” I wasn’t broken. I probably would have made it just fine without discovering the healing capabilities that reflection card decks have to offer. The same goes for you, too I’m sure.
Just because you’re a nurse, your job can be tough, you hold a lot and your life is busy as anything does not mean you need healing.
Here’s the thing though – it’s not really about fixing something that’s broken. You’re not broken. It’s about holding space for yourself, it’s about the series of small little moments that begin to string together as a result that eventually creates a habit of doing something for yourself that just feels good.
Over time, little moments add up to really impact your life in such a positive way.
After a couple of months my energy level, attitude and overall vitality really started to make a drastic shift for the better. Absolutely worth the time and energy investment!
If you’re interested in The Nurse’s Soul Card Deck you can grab your copy here (ships for free)! OR you can enter to win a free deck (drawings are the first every month), here.
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