Balancing Work and Life Using A Therapeutic Outlet.
Balancing work and life requires skill. It is essential to our overall well-being. The host of this episode of the Minute Mastery Podcast is Jennifer Johnston, a registered nurse and author. She shares her story about the challenges of balancing work and life, especially in the demanding field of healthcare.
Jennifer shares her journey of writing as a therapeutic outlet during the pandemic, the realities of working in an emergency room, and the importance of self-care. She gives practical tips for aspiring writers, including time management strategies and the significance of finding inspiration.
The episode culminates in the announcement of Jennifer's new book, 'Nursing Intuition', which aims to empower healthcare professionals. Let us see how balancing work and life helped Jennifer to reach her goals.
Navigating Chaos: Balancing Work and Life
Jennifer admits it is always a balancing act when making everything fit. When you pick up one thing to do, it will take away time from another.
You have to make sure what you pick is worth it. So, writing was originally an excuse, to help her get rid of all the challenges around her work life.
Writing her stories, helped her make sense of what she was doing in the middle of the pandemic when she was not at her best.
The Journey of a Healthcare Professional
Jennifer describes working in the ER as being in an abusive relationship with the public. So when COVID happened and everybody was very thankful, nobody was coming in unless they absolutely had to, it was a complete game changer where it's like, this is not the normal. A typical normal is people who probably should have seen their family doctor or a walk-in clinic or an urgent care instead of coming to the emergency and waiting hours and hours and hours and then getting very frustrated and upset.
The one thing she wish the public knew was a nurse is 10 times more likely as an ER nurse to be assaulted than police and corrections combined.
People talk about violence in health care, but if you are not living it, it is really hard to imagine. It is just like anything else. Like if you are not in my shoes, how could you possibly know what I deal with on a daily basis? Nurses are assalted and worse case, killed on duty!
Finding Comfort in Writing
I really admire Jenn for not sitting down there feeling sorry for herself, she did something worthwhile, writing and , bringing herself out through writing and finding comfort and relaxation.
I admire Jenn for not sitting down there feeling sorry for herself, she did something worthwhile, writing and, bringing herself out through writing and finding comfort and relaxation.
Typically, she goes through fits and spurts. Sometimes she gets an idea and runs with it. Other times, during her editing process she may drag her heels not sure if she should do things right away! And she makes excuses just like anybody else. But discovered that if she could get up at five in the morning, she would be inspired and be more creative.
Things are never the same though, because, her night shift messes up with her brain so much that sometimes she wakes up two, three, four o'clock in the morning and sits there for a minute going like, okay, am I going to get up or am I not? And as soon as she figures things out, she says to herself: you know what, I will get up.
She then writes for about an hour doing whatever she can do before going back to bed. And Jenn finds that her best writing has been in the dark, either very, very early in the morning or late at night. These days, It is less late at night because most of her writing originally started when she didn't have daycare and her kids were four and five during the pandemic. So, the only time she had was early morning and when the house was super dark and quiet.
Typically, she goes through fits and spurts. Sometimes she gets an idea and run with it. Other times, during her editing process she may drag her heels not sure if she should do things right away! And she makes excuses just like anybody else. But found that if she could get up at five in the morning, she is inspired and more creative.
Things are never the same though, because, her night shift messes up with her brain so much that sometimes she wakes up two, three, four o'clock in the morning and just sits there for a minute going like, okay, am I going to get up or am I not? And as soon as she figures things out, she says to herself: you know what, I will just get up.
She then, writes for about an hour doing whatever she can do before going back to bed. And Jenn finds that her best writing has been in the dark, either very, very early in the morning or really late at night. These days, It is less the late at night now because most of her writing originally started when she didn't have daycare and her kids were four and five during the pandemic.
So the only time she had was early in the morning and when the house is super dark and quiet.
Key Takeaways
- Life is chaotic, and finding balance is essential.
- Writing can serve as a therapeutic outlet.
- Emergency room nurses face unique challenges and risks.
- Public understanding of ER dynamics is crucial.
- Time management requires prioritizing tasks effectively.
- Waking up early can boost productivity and creativity.
- Using tools like ChatGPT can enhance writing.
- The Pomodoro Technique can help manage time effectively.
- Self-care is vital for maintaining mental health.
- Publishing a book involves a steep learning curve.
Jennifer works in a challenging environment that can affect anyone's overall well-being. For some, it may stall their growth and productivity. Jennifer did not let that stop her. She found ways of working around the chaos and achieving her goals, and you can too. Connect with Jennifer through her website and on linkedin and on Instagram
Thank you for tuninig in to the Minute Mastery Podcast. My Podcast came to life because of the following tools:
Riverside FM for recording and editing
Podmatch Looking for guests? Try Podmatch
Join my newsletter for a weekly doze of motivation to help you reclaim time to do the things that matter. Join below:
You will find the best stuff on the blog! Check out the following:
Like this post? Share it!
Fresh-squeezed how-to tips on book writing and busy mom life delivered to your inbox weekly.
My mama taught me never to brag. But permit me just this once to brag. Our emails kind of rock. This is where all the magic happens. Sign up for regular pep talks, inspiration, and all kinds of substance-packed goodness. Let's connect before you say goodbye.