Your travel nurse housing can play an essential role in the overall success of your healthcare contract. Many licensed medical professionals focus solely on city and facility alone when choosing their next traveling nurse assignment.
However, where you spend time between shifts is also important. It’s crucial to create a living environment that is comfortable and relaxing to prevent homesickness, as well as promote emotional and spiritual wellness throughout the duration of your contract.
Whether you’re considering your first contract assignment, or are a seasoned medical road warrior, it’s vital to make your travel nurse housing feel like home. Go into your next adventure armed with a few simple tips to help curb feelings of homesickness and help you prioritize your holistic health while away.
Unpack
The best way to eliminate the temporary feel of your temporary housing? Unpack. Not only will putting all of your belongings away instantly make your accommodations feel more familiar, but not having to rifle through a suitcase or box every time you need something can also help reduce stress, anxiety, and inconvenience.
Bring Your Bedding
Getting enough rest every night can make a major difference on how you feel about, well, pretty much everything that happens throughout the day. Set yourself up for success by bringing a favorite blanket or pillow with you that helps you doze off and reminds you of home.
Gather Personal Photos, Artwork, and Knickknacks
It’s great to enjoy fully furnished travel nurse housing while on assignment. However, nothing says you can’t personalize your space with meaningful mementos. Pictures of loved ones can make your space feel comforting and familiar. Bring a few individual favorites or even a digital picture frame to keep a steady stream of memories on loop at all times. Additionally, treasured drawings, decorative items, and even scented candles from home can make your place feel warm and inviting.
Remember Comfort Foods
We all have certain meals, snacks, and beverages that remind us of home. Bring your preferred coffee to get your mornings off to a good start. Pack special food items that you know you won’t have access to while away. Don’t want to haul everything with you when traveling? Ask your family to send specific treats in a care package once you’re there and settled. Having access to your favorite tastes and smells can help stave off pangs of hunger and homesickness.
Find Your Routine (aka Hit Your Groove)
Yes, traveling nurse assignments provide an invaluable opportunity to embrace spontaneity, excitement, and adventure. However, it’s also critical to carve out time for some of the routines that make us feel like ourselves when on the road. Morning coffees on the front porch, daily journaling practices, or evening bedtime rituals can all help you feel more at home in your new place.
Connect With Loved Ones
If you’re bringing your loved ones with you, let them help personalize the new living accommodations. A group effort not only helps get everyone excited about the temporary relocation, but it’s also a fun way to bond – both with each other as well as the new house. If you’re going alone, be sure to make time to connect with your loved ones. Use technology to your advantage. Daily text messaging, video calls, and social media photos can help fill up your unfamiliar rooms with happy memories and transform your travel nurse housing into a home.
What are some of your favorite ways to make your accommodations on assignment feel familiar and welcoming? Tell us about it in the comments below. Or, contact ARMStaffing today to discuss your next healthcare opportunity with one of our professional traveling nurse recruiters.
