Maintaining a healthy work–life balance

Introduction

It can be challenging to manage the demands of a highly stressful job while also fulfilling personal responsibilities. Maintaining wellness involves various factors including a healthy diet, regular exercise, adequate sleep, stress management and a work–life balance (National Academies of Sciences et al, 2021). When nurses prioritise their wellbeing, they are better equipped to address the physical and emotional demands of the job and offer the best quality of care to patients.

Nursing can be a demanding profession that requires long hours and shift work, and can cause high levels of stress. Nurses often work during weekends, holidays and night shifts, all of which can interfere with personal and family responsibilities. The nature of the job may also lead to physical and emotional exhaustion, making it difficult to maintain a healthy work–life balance.

This article discusses the importance of nurse wellness, the challenges that nurses face in maintaining a