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As nurses, we’re trained to push through—but your body often knows you’re stressed long before burnout shows up.

In this episode of The Nurses’ Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN, we explore the early physical stress signals nurses commonly ignore: shallow breathing, tight chests, fatigue, irritability, headaches, muscle tension, and that feeling of being checked out.

These signals aren’t flaws or failures. They’re information.

You’ll learn simple, in-the-moment ways to pause, regulate your nervous system, and respond with compassion—without needing hours of self-care or complicated routines.

If you want to prevent burnout by listening sooner instead of pushing harder, this episode will meet you right where you are.

✅ Takeaways / Action Steps

• Identify early body-based stress signals
• Try a quick 30-second nervous system reset
• Use grounding, breath, and posture to reduce tension
• Ask: “What do I need most right now?”
• Practice earlier boundaries, not bigger ones
• Respond to your body with kindness and curiosity

If you're feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or like there’s never enough time, I’ve got something just for you! Head to https://selfcareisntselfish.com to grab your FREE copy of my book, Self-Care Isn’t Selfish: The Compassionate Nurse’s Step-by-Step Guide to Personalized Stress Relief. It’s packed with simple, effective strategies to help you prioritize your needs—without guilt—so you can feel energized, focused, and ready to take on the day. Go to https://selfcareisntselfish.com

Feeling stressed? Grab my quick and easy Busy Nurses' Guide to Less Stress for practical stress relief that truly fits into your life! https://www.jennylytle.com/guide

Looking for connection with people who get the stress and self-care struggles of nurses and caregivers? Check out https://thenursesbreakroom.com

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennylytlern/

More ways to connect here: https://linktr.ee/jennylytle

Send me a text - make sure to include your full phone number so I can reply (software blocks it) 💕

This week on The Nurses’ Break Room with Jenny Lytle, RN, we’re talking about something so many caregivers struggle with during December: slowing down without feeling guilty.

The holidays bring pressure — expectations, invitations, comparison, and the constant feeling that you should be doing more. But rest isn’t laziness. It’s essential for your mental health, your energy, and your ability to care for others.

In this episode, Jenny shares practical ways to release end-of-year pressure, set loving boundaries, protect your time, and build simple micro-moments of rest into even the busiest schedule.

Perfect for nurses, caregivers, and anyone feeling stretched thin this season.

Takeaways / Action Steps

• Give yourself grace for goals you didn’t meet (life changed — you adapted).
• Set small, loving boundaries around spending, events, and expectations.
• Say yes only to what aligns with your energy and capacity.
• Use micro-rest moments (coffee pause, extra sleep, simple meals, 5-minute resets).
• Let go of “shoulds” around decorating, hosting, or doing it all.
• Honor your capacity instead of pushing through burnout.

If you're feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or like there’s never enough time, I’ve got something just for you! Head to https://selfcareisntselfish.com to grab your FREE copy of my book, Self-Care Isn’t Selfish: The Compassionate Nurse’s Step-by-Step Guide to Personalized Stress Relief. It’s packed with simple, effective strategies to help you prioritize your needs—without guilt—so you can feel energized, focused, and ready to take on the day. Go to https://selfcareisntselfish.com

Feeling stressed? Grab my quick and easy Busy Nurses' Guide to Less Stress for practical stress relief that truly fits into your life! https://www.jennylytle.com/guide

Looking for connection with people who get the stress and self-care struggles of nurses and caregivers? Check out https://thenursesbreakroom.com

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennylytlern/

More ways to connect here: https://linktr.ee/jennylytle

Send me a text - make sure to include your full phone number so I can reply (software blocks it) 💕

In this episode of The Nurses’ Break Room with Jenny Lytle, RN, we talk about something many people quietly carry this time of year: grief during the holidays. Whether you’re missing a person, a relationship, or a season of life, the holiday season can magnify those emotions.

You’ll learn simple, compassionate ways to navigate grief, honor your loved ones, stay connected, and support your mental and emotional health—without pretending everything is “fine.”

What we cover:

• Why holiday grief feels so intense
• How to let yourself feel without judgment
• Simple ways to honor loved ones during the season
• What “Blue Christmas” and longest night services offer
• Staying connected instead of isolating
• Journaling + talking to your loved one as emotional support
• How to care for your body when grief drains your energy
• Giving yourself permission to simplify traditions

Takeaways + Action Steps:

• ✔ Let emotions rise and fall without forcing cheerfulness
• ✔ Create one simple ritual to honor your loved one
• ✔ Reach out to one safe person when grief feels heavy
• ✔ Make a short self-care plan: sleep, hydration, gentle movement
• ✔ Release “shoulds” and do only what feels supportive this year

Perfect for anyone grieving, supporting a griever, or navigating seasonal depression.

If you're feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or like there’s never enough time, I’ve got something just for you! Head to https://selfcareisntselfish.com to grab your FREE copy of my book, Self-Care Isn’t Selfish: The Compassionate Nurse’s Step-by-Step Guide to Personalized Stress Relief. It’s packed with simple, effective strategies to help you prioritize your needs—without guilt—so you can feel energized, focused, and ready to take on the day. Go to https://selfcareisntselfish.com

Feeling stressed? Grab my quick and easy Busy Nurses' Guide to Less Stress for practical stress relief that truly fits into your life! https://www.jennylytle.com/guide

Looking for connection with people who get the stress and self-care struggles of nurses and caregivers? Check out https://thenursesbreakroom.com

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennylytlern/

More ways to connect here: https://linktr.ee/jennylytle

Send me a text - make sure to include your full phone number so I can reply (software blocks it) 💕

In the final episode of our three-part Winter Blues series, we’re shifting from the mind to the body. When you’re tired, stressed, or overwhelmed, you can’t always think your way into feeling better — but you can move your way there.

Jenny walks you through five simple, accessible somatic exercises that help calm your nervous system, increase energy, and bring you back into your body in just a few minutes. No equipment, no special setup — just gentle movement that fits into real life and real nurse schedules.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, scattered, or emotionally heavy, these small somatic tools offer a powerful way to reconnect with yourself and shift your mood quickly.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
✅ Why somatic practices work for mood, energy, and emotional regulation
✅ How grounding breath instantly calms your nervous system
✅ A shoulder-release technique that melts tension from screens, phones, and stress
✅ Why shaking is one of the quickest ways to reset your system
✅ A heart-centered exercise for grounding, comfort, and self-compassion
✅ Why small, consistent movement creates real change

Takeaways & Action Steps:

1. Practice the grounding breath for 3–5 cycles anytime you feel overwhelmed.
2. Use the shoulder release during work breaks, charting, or on your commute.
3. Try gentle shaking the next time you feel anxious or overstimulated.
4. Use hand-on-heart breathing for emotional grounding during tough moments.
5. Add one tiny movement ritual each day — stretching, walking, or dancing for 1 minute.

🔊 Verbatim Soundbite (15–30 seconds)

If you're feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or like there’s never enough time, I’ve got something just for you! Head to https://selfcareisntselfish.com to grab your FREE copy of my book, Self-Care Isn’t Selfish: The Compassionate Nurse’s Step-by-Step Guide to Personalized Stress Relief. It’s packed with simple, effective strategies to help you prioritize your needs—without guilt—so you can feel energized, focused, and ready to take on the day. Go to https://selfcareisntselfish.com

Feeling stressed? Grab my quick and easy Busy Nurses' Guide to Less Stress for practical stress relief that truly fits into your life! https://www.jennylytle.com/guide

Looking for connection with people who get the stress and self-care struggles of nurses and caregivers? Check out https://thenursesbreakroom.com

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennylytlern/

More ways to connect here: https://linktr.ee/jennylytle

Send me a text - make sure to include your full phone number so I can reply (software blocks it) 💕

If the dark mornings, cold weather, and post-holiday slump have you feeling tired, sluggish, or unmotivated — you’re not alone. In part two of the Winter Blues series, Jenny shares simple, practical ways to support your energy during the winter months, especially if you’re working long shifts or juggling the chaos of caregiving.

Learn why your body naturally slows down this time of year, how light and movement impact mood, and what steps you can take to shift from “holiday hustle” into a calmer, healthier winter rhythm.

This episode is full of small, doable habits that help you feel better — without adding more to your plate.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
✅ Why darker days impact your mood, energy, and motivation
✅ How light exposure (even through windows) boosts alertness
✅ Ways to create a simple winter routine that supports—not drains—you
✅ How to rest intentionally rather than collapsing into exhaustion
✅ Why connection is essential when winter makes you want to withdraw
✅ Easy ways to add gentle movement into your day

Takeaways & Action Steps:

1. Get 5–10 minutes of natural light or bright window light each morning if possible.
2. Build a simple “winter routine” you can do on autopilot on low-energy days.
3. Schedule intentional rest — cozy time counts when it’s chosen, not default.
4. Connect with one person this week: call, text, or coffee.
5. Move your body for at least 3–5 minutes a day (stretching, dancing, or walking).
6. Stuck? Book a call! https://calendly.com/jennylytlern/free

If you're feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or like there’s never enough time, I’ve got something just for you! Head to https://selfcareisntselfish.com to grab your FREE copy of my book, Self-Care Isn’t Selfish: The Compassionate Nurse’s Step-by-Step Guide to Personalized Stress Relief. It’s packed with simple, effective strategies to help you prioritize your needs—without guilt—so you can feel energized, focused, and ready to take on the day. Go to https://selfcareisntselfish.com

Feeling stressed? Grab my quick and easy Busy Nurses' Guide to Less Stress for practical stress relief that truly fits into your life! https://www.jennylytle.com/guide

Looking for connection with people who get the stress and self-care struggles of nurses and caregivers? Check out https://thenursesbreakroom.com

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennylytlern/

More ways to connect here: https://linktr.ee/jennylytle

Send me a text - make sure to include your full phone number so I can reply (software blocks it) 💕

The holidays can bring joy, connection, and celebration — but also stress, sadness, and overwhelm. In this first episode of Jenny’s three-part Winter Blues series, she shares gentle, practical ways to keep your spirits bright through the holidays without adding pressure or guilt.

Whether you’re caring for others at work or home, or just feeling the emotional weight of the season, this episode offers compassion-based stress relief and reflection prompts to help you reset, reconnect, and rediscover what truly matters.

Jenny reminds us that keeping spirits bright doesn’t mean forcing joy — it means making space for peace, connection, and presence.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:
✅ Why winter can drain your motivation — and how to prepare before it hits
✅ A simple mindset shift that helps you release guilt and embrace self-kindness
✅ How to decide which traditions still bring joy (and which to let go of)
✅ Ways to redefine holiday “success” around meaning, not perfection
✅ How compassion — for yourself and others — can change everything this season

Takeaways & Action Steps:

1. Ask yourself: “What do I want this season to feel like?”
2. Choose one tradition or expectation you can release to reduce stress.
3. Focus on what truly fills you — connection, calm, or creativity — not comparison.
4. Practice self-kindness daily, especially when life feels heavy.

If you're feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or like there’s never enough time, I’ve got something just for you! Head to https://selfcareisntselfish.com to grab your FREE copy of my book, Self-Care Isn’t Selfish: The Compassionate Nurse’s Step-by-Step Guide to Personalized Stress Relief. It’s packed with simple, effective strategies to help you prioritize your needs—without guilt—so you can feel energized, focused, and ready to take on the day. Go to https://selfcareisntselfish.com

Feeling stressed? Grab my quick and easy Busy Nurses' Guide to Less Stress for practical stress relief that truly fits into your life! https://www.jennylytle.com/guide

Looking for connection with people who get the stress and self-care struggles of nurses and caregivers? Check out https://thenursesbreakroom.com

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennylytlern/

More ways to connect here: https://linktr.ee/jennylytle

Send me a text - make sure to include your full phone number so I can reply (software blocks it) 💕

What’s your morning routine really like? If you're a nurse juggling on-call nights, family responsibilities, and a full-time job, mornings can feel more chaotic than calm.

In this episode, Jenny Lytle, RN, gets honest about her own struggles — and small wins — with creating a nourishing morning routine that actually works in real life. Inspired by The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod, Jenny shares how she’s adapted the “SAVERS” method to fit the unpredictability of healthcare life.

Whether you're working night shifts or simply tired of waking up in a rush, you’ll walk away with simple, realistic ideas for starting your day on your terms.

What you'll learn:

• Why your morning routine doesn’t need to be perfect to be powerful
• A nurse-friendly breakdown of The Miracle Morning “SAVERS” framework
• Easy ways to include self-care in your first 5–30 minutes
• How morning intention-setting impacts your mood and energy
• Why flexibility is key when every day looks different

Keywords: morning routine for nurses, realistic self-care, flexible morning rituals, miracle morning savers, nurse burnout, healthcare morning habits, nurse lifestyle tips

If you're feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or like there’s never enough time, I’ve got something just for you! Head to https://selfcareisntselfish.com to grab your FREE copy of my book, Self-Care Isn’t Selfish: The Compassionate Nurse’s Step-by-Step Guide to Personalized Stress Relief. It’s packed with simple, effective strategies to help you prioritize your needs—without guilt—so you can feel energized, focused, and ready to take on the day. Go to https://selfcareisntselfish.com

Feeling stressed? Grab my quick and easy Busy Nurses' Guide to Less Stress for practical stress relief that truly fits into your life! https://www.jennylytle.com/guide

Looking for connection with people who get the stress and self-care struggles of nurses and caregivers? Check out https://thenursesbreakroom.com

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennylytlern/

More ways to connect here: https://linktr.ee/jennylytle

Send me a text - make sure to include your full phone number so I can reply (software blocks it) 💕

If you’ve ever found yourself thinking “something’s gotta give,” this episode is for you.

In today’s episode of The Nurses Break Room, Jenny Lytle RN shares a simple yet powerful reflection tool: The Four Helpful Lists. Whether you’re recovering from a big project, navigating the chaos of the holidays, or just trying to get through a hectic week on the floor, this 4-question framework will help you take stock of what’s working—and what’s not.

Originally introduced by Christy Wright and now a regular go-to in Jenny’s life, this exercise helps nurses and caregivers clarify, refocus, and reset.

You’ll learn:

• What “The Four Helpful Lists” are and how to use them
• Why brain-dumping on paper can reduce stress and mental clutter
• How to spot energy leaks in your schedule and fix them
• A fresh way to reflect on any event, shift, or life season
• Why this tool is especially helpful around the holidays

Take Action:

• Grab a piece of paper and draw a cross to create 4 quadrants
• Answer these four questions:
  1. What went right? → Amplify it
  2. What went wrong? → Fix it
  3. What’s confusing? → Clarify it
  4. What’s missing? → Add it
• Revisit this tool after any major event or during times of stress

🎧 Listen now and give yourself the clarity and calm you deserve.

If you're feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or like there’s never enough time, I’ve got something just for you! Head to https://selfcareisntselfish.com to grab your FREE copy of my book, Self-Care Isn’t Selfish: The Compassionate Nurse’s Step-by-Step Guide to Personalized Stress Relief. It’s packed with simple, effective strategies to help you prioritize your needs—without guilt—so you can feel energized, focused, and ready to take on the day. Go to https://selfcareisntselfish.com

Feeling stressed? Grab my quick and easy Busy Nurses' Guide to Less Stress for practical stress relief that truly fits into your life! https://www.jennylytle.com/guide

Looking for connection with people who get the stress and self-care struggles of nurses and caregivers? Check out https://thenursesbreakroom.com

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennylytlern/

More ways to connect here: https://linktr.ee/jennylytle