A Nurse Practitioner Looks to Travel to Avoid Burnout

We have all been through quite the year. Everyone has had their lives impacted by COVID-19 in some way. And I think we are all experiencing some level of burnout. As a nurse practitioner working in critical care my work has changed dramatically. The last year has been dominated by 20 plus 12 plus hour workday months; marred by uncertainty for my safety, my coworkers safety, and my patients’ prognoses. I have grappled with deaths that were sudden. That, from my perspective, were avoidable. I have had to inform families that they cannot say goodbye to their loved ones. Meanwhile Dave, my fiancé, has been trapped at home. Isolated and alone most days, given my work schedule. No longer able to go to work, see his friends, or compete in his cycling events.

It has sucked.

With a job like mine it is important to have coping skills to avoid burnout. Thing(s) that allow you to recharge. Travel has always been my coping skill. There is nothing quite like a plane ride to a faraway destination to wash the death and stress of critical care from your hair. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job. I love caring for those who need care the most. I love the intensity of critical care. But to avoid the burnout, I need to leave sometimes. 

Reflecting on 2020

In the last year I think a lot of us have been taking stock. We are realizing what and who matter most to us, and we are starting to form visions of what we want life to look like at the end of this. I have come to the finish line realizing that I am excited to venture into a new chapter of life with Dave and get married. I have also come to realize that I want to be more inclusive in my travel. I want to build my travel around friends and family, whether it is adventuring with them or to them. 

Learning How to Travel with Others

Honestly, until 2018 I had avoided traveling with others, outside of my sister. Why you might ask? Well… Diabetes and celiac disease. When you travel with a disease that requires extra supplies, potential emergencies, a specialized diet, and ALWAYS results in an extra pat down by security it feels like a burden on others.

In 2018 Dave and I took a trip to Belize. It changed EVERYTHING. Even with diabetes and an extra pat down Dave took longer to get through security than me. Even with fluctuating blood sugars Dave was definitely crankier on the flight. And while I am a woman, and he is a man… I definitely navigated airports to connecting flights more accurately 😉 The one thing it appeared to impact was my physical luggage, which I definitely had more of. It didn’t make a difference, and Dave certainly didn’t feel like I was burden because of diabetes or celiac disease. Since then we have been traveling together, and I have been opening up my travel to others.

Travel allows you to reframe your world. It is an experience that allows you to grow as a person in more ways than one. As a solo traveller for years I always focussed on streamlining my travel experience for one. Thanks to my sister and Dave I came to realize that my experience doesn’t have to be as a solo traveller, and even though I come with baggage, it is worth the experience together. Moving forward I want to share lessons like these with others, the good and bad. I want to help people see the potential travel can have on life and relationships.