Nursing Self Care Plan

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Pages: 5

Self Care Plan: Exercise to Reduce Stress In this paper I will outline my SMART goals to reduce stress in nursing school through exercise and physical activity. I will make an effort to work out or do something active at least 5 days a week to reap the proven health benefits that come with an increase in physical activity (National Institutes of Health, 2016).
Consistency with My Physical Activity and Exercise Over the next three months, I would like to make a conscious effort to be consistent with my physical activity and exercise in order to combat the stress and anxiety that will inevitably come with the first quarter of nursing school. I will not only reap the physical health benefits that arise from staying active, but I will reduce
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I will also wear my Apple Watch which tracks my activity, exercise, and movement throughout the day and week, and adjusts after each week depending on goals achieved. At the beginning of each week I review my scholastic goals and deadlines as well as my physical activity goals for the week, and I will make a comprehensive plan for both. I will be mindful to stand or walk at least a few minutes every hour during longer study sessions, and my Apple Watch will vibrate to remind me to do so. My goal for increasing physical activity will be measured on a weekly basis, and I will be able to answer the question: “Did I attend every class or gym session set for the week?” Although my goal to increase physical activity is more for my mental health and wellness, I will also be able to measure the benefits to my physical health, including weight, body fat, and if my clothes still fit! I do not need to lose weight, however I do not want to gain weight under the stress of nursing school, and I will measure these goals with a bathroom scale that measures both weight and body fat percentage. In the past I have gained weight during school, and by placing an importance on physical activity this quarter I will hopefully prevent this from …show more content…
Among the many physical health benefits that come from an increase in physical activity, the NIH also recognizes that individuals who are physically active reduce their risk for developing mental disorders including depression and anxiety. An increase in physical activity also shows an increase in cognitive function including thinking and learning (National Institutes of Health, 2016). The National Institutes of Health gives several recommendations for adults regarding physical activity. While the NIH states adults may see many health benefits from as few as 60 minutes of physical activity per week, the most health benefits come from “300 minutes (5 hours) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) of vigorous-intensity activity each week” (National Institutes of Health, 2016). With my plan of seeking physical activity for a total of five days per week for at least one hour per session, I will be meeting, or exceeding, the NIH