Our Plan:

1) Trent nursing (4 year program)

2) Gain experience working in a MedSpa during university

3) 2 years of experience working as a nurse after graduation

4) Women's Health Nurse Practitioner program (2 years)

5) Work as an Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner

6) Own a MedSpa with sister

Having distractions helps me disconnect from anxiety and stress. These distractions include writing music, going to the gym, and reading. Sometimes my worries have me feeling restrained because they are constantly on my mind but having these distractions has helped me let go of those worries and focus on other things. It is easy for me to focus my attention on something other than my anxiety when I find hobbies and interests that I am passionate about. I believe that having these ways to distract myself and take a break from my studies has decreased my risk of getting burnt out from stress.

Inspirations:

I get inspired by motivational content posted on social media such as pinterest, youtube, motivational apps, and spotify podcasts. Content that is shared to inspire and encourage positive life outcomes has truly benefited my well-being in many ways. I believe that inspirational content is a type of support system similar to the support my family or friends provide by encouraging me to do my best. I intentionally search the internet for inspiration when I am feeling a lack of motivation and I have found that both educational videos and podcasts, as well as positive quotes are great sources of inspiration. 

Relaxation:

Ways that I have been able to relax are by spending time in nature, having nice scents circulating my home, and low-energy exercise such as yoga. I use relaxation as a great way to wind-down before going to bed and even sometimes I will use it to progressively wake myself up in the mornings. Having a cup of coffee with a candle lite in the morning is an example of a way to relax and also slowly wake up. I also light a candle before bed when I participate in some light reading which prepares me to go to bed. 

Coping Skills:

A few of my favourite coping skills include keeping to-do lists in my notes, making time to see family, and having a planner. These coping skills have been the primary sources that have helped me stay on top of my assignments this academic term. To-do lists and a planner go hand-in-hand in organization which is extremely important in order to keep track of school work. Keeping good organizational skills has helped me relieve anxiety caused from the stress of not seeing a due date or missing an assignment. Family time is another important coping mechanism because they have supported me by providing a helping hand as well as reassurance. 

Incorporation:

I am going to integrate my self-care plan into my daily routine by using it to cope with difficult situations. Whenever I find myself in a difficult situation where I feel anxious I can use bits and pieces of my self-care plan to help bring relief to my anxiety. Situations that bring up negative emotions include feeling overwhelmed due to school work. To tackle my negative emotions towards the situation I can use distractions, inspiration, relaxation, and coping skills. I will use my distractions because it is important to take time for yourself in between work to prevent burn out, I will use inspiration to keep myself motivated to put in as much effort possible into my work, I will use relaxation to decrease stress levels that may come up while working, and I will use coping skills to stay on track of my assignments and due dates. 

Evaluation:

I believe my self-care plan will positively impact my personal and professional well-being because it is a structured plan that I can use when dealing with difficult situations involving mental, emotional and physical health. Each principle in my self-care plan benefits all three aspects of my health. For example, relaxation uplifts my mood (emotional), brings me peace (mental), and promotes exercise (physical).