How to Stay Sane and Organized While Working on Your Bachelor of Science in Nursing

There are certain times in your life where you may feel as though you have bitten off more than you can chew, or at the very least taken on more than what you should have comfortably said yes to. In those times, it is more important than ever to find tips and advice that can help you to cope, stay sane, and of course, stay organized so that life doesn’t end up taking over. 

For those who have signed on for their bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), this is undoubtedly one of those times in life that can feel quite stressful. You know you’re working towards an incredible goal, and you know it’s worth it, but getting there to that end point can be trying at best. Rather than let yourself get overtaken by the stress, we’ve gone ahead and put together some advice that you can refer to that will help you to keep your eyes on the goal and power through.

Remind Yourself What It Is You’re Working Towards

It’s very easy to get caught up in the stress of day to day life, and with that, your goals can start to fade into the background. When you’re busy working on your accelerated BSN nursing program online and putting all your energy in it, your end goal can start to fade or lose its allure. Remind yourself about why you’re going through this school, why your BSN is so important, and what the dream job is that you’re working to achieve.

Sometimes a bit of a reality check and reminder is necessary to help keep your motivation up and inject a little drive and energy into you.

Learn How to Use a Schedule

This is a tip that isn’t just useful as you work on your BSN but throughout your entire life. Learning how to use a schedule effectively can make everything a whole lot smoother. A schedule will lift some of the stress off your shoulders in that you don’t have to try to remember everything. When you write down information such as deadlines, appointments, errands, and reminders, you can refer to that schedule any time and get an instant look at what’s coming up.

While you can certainly use a traditional calendar and pen to jot things down, in today’s high-tech world, you may find it more useful to use the calendar app on your phone or download a more feature-rich calendar app. There are plenty of apps that sync multiple information sources together, which can make your calendar/schedule even more efficient. It removes the need to check multiple sources as everything is found in one central location.

Become a Pro at Prioritizing

If your to-do list has gotten out of hand and is bigger than you can ever hope to imagine, it’s time to become a pro at prioritizing. Learning how to prioritize will save you all kinds of stress and can even free up some time as you start to realize that some things aren’t as urgent as others. 

If you’re new to prioritizing, here are some simple steps you can follow:

• Start each day by creating a to-do list. 
• After you have written everything down (tasks, assignments, school work, and so forth), you can rate them in terms of priority. The rating can be not important/not urgent, important/not urgent, urgent/not important, or urgent/important. Right there, you have now started to create a prioritized list that makes more sense.
• Now focus on getting through all the most urgent/important tasks first, and then work your way through the rest in terms of ranking.

Learn When to Say No

Because you have so much on your plate, it can feel as though you’re being stretched in many directions at once. If you’re the type that constantly says “yes” when people ask for favors and ask you to help out, it may be time to start learning the joys of saying no. Saying no isn’t something you should feel guilty about; sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. 

One of the best lessons a person can learn in life is that the only person they can please is themselves. Stop worrying about what others may think, take guilt out of the equation, and do what feels good for you. If that means you just need a quiet night at home instead of going out with friends, or that you won’t be the one doing the cooking this week, then say no.

Add Physical Activity into Your Day

Sure, it may not seem like you have time left over for working out, but the fact is that it will ensure both your body and mind stay in peak physical shape. As a nurse in the healthcare industry, these are essential since your job will be so taxing. Learning these habits early on will help ensure you stay sane in such a fast-paced work environment.

While there is nothing wrong with joining a gym, keep in mind that it’s not necessary. You can get physical activity in by walking, jogging, biking, hiking, swimming, joining a class, joining a sports team, and even simple house chores.

Make Sure You’re Getting Enough Sleep 

The final tip sounds almost too simple to mention, but the fact is that a lot of people aren’t getting enough sleep. Maybe you’ve been in the habit of studying into the wee hours of the morning and then waking up to get an early start. This just isn’t enough sleep for you to function at your best. No matter your health, age, or lifestyle, everyone needs at least seven hours of sleep on a regular nightly basis.

Cruise Through Your BSN Program with Ease

By using these tips and advice, you’ll be able to cruise through your bachelor of science in nursing with ease and come out stronger, more prepared, and ready to take on your dream job.

 

Feature image courtesy of Pixabay