Nurses prioritized mental resilience in 2021. Long shifts and high-stress environments made self-care a necessity rather than a luxury.

The Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation initiative provided actionable New Year's resolutions adapted for 2021: make time for one self-care activity per week, connect with a friend virtually, sleep a minimum of eight hours per night, spend more time in nature, minimize time on social media, and start meditating. Research from Johns Hopkins showed that home-cooked meals had less fat, calories, and sugar than restaurant food—a simple but powerful lifestyle change.