The holidays can feel different when you’re working a travel assignment. While friends and family are gathering at home, travel nurses are often in a new city, learning a new unit, and caring for patients who need them most. That mix of purpose and distance creates a unique holiday experience — one that can be meaningful, but also emotional.
The good news is that being away doesn’t mean missing out completely. With a few intentional choices, travel nurses can stay connected, protect their well-being, and still find moments of celebration on the road.
Give Yourself Permission to Redefine the Holidays
One of the biggest stressors for travel nurses during the holidays is the expectation that the season should look the same every year. When you’re working in a new location, traditions may shift. That doesn’t mean they disappear. It means they evolve.
Many travel nurses find that re-framing the holidays helps ease the pressure. Instead of focusing on what’s missing, they focus on what’s possible — new experiences, different traditions, and the chance to serve patients during a vulnerable time.
Stay Connected in Ways That Feel Real
Being far from home doesn’t have to feel isolating. Staying connected is less about the length of a call and more about consistency and meaning.
Some nurses schedule a standing video call for a specific day, even if it’s not on the holiday itself. Others share photos of their city or their unit decorations to bring loved ones into their world. Simple routines like calling on a walk, sending voice notes, or watching the same movie from different places can make the distance feel smaller.
If your schedule is unpredictable, setting a “holiday check-in” date ahead of time helps you and your family plan around your shifts.
Celebrate With the People Around You
When you’re on assignment, your coworkers often become your holiday community. Even if you’ve only been on a unit for a short time, holiday shifts tend to bring teams closer.
Many travel nurses join small workplace traditions like potlucks, decorated stations, or shared treats. Saying yes to a simple invitation can lead to connection you didn’t expect. It also reminds you that the holiday spirit shows up in people, not just places.
Create Small Traditions That Travel With You
You don’t need a full holiday setup to feel the season. Small traditions matter more than size.
Travel nurses often bring one or two portable traditions on the road — a favorite ornament, a candle, a holiday playlist, a recipe, or even a cozy routine after shift. These familiar pieces create emotional grounding in an unfamiliar setting.
Even one small ritual gives the season a sense of continuity, no matter where you are.
Protect Your Energy and Your Mood
The holidays can add emotional weight to an already demanding schedule. Travel nurses may feel guilt about being away, stress from adapting to a new facility, or fatigue from extra shifts.
During this season, self-care is not optional. It’s protective.
Prioritize rest where you can. Eat consistently, even if it’s simple. Take your breaks when possible. If you feel your mood slipping, check in early — with a friend, a coworker, or someone you trust. Feeling homesick does not mean you’re ungrateful. It means you’re human.
Plan a “Later Holiday” If You Need To
One strategy that many travel nurses swear by is scheduling their own holiday celebration on a different date. When your assignment schedule doesn’t allow time off, a delayed holiday gives you something to look forward to.
It also takes pressure off the day itself and shifts your focus from what you’re missing to what you’re building.
Travel nursing during the holidays isn’t always easy, but it can be deeply meaningful. You’re showing up for patients who may be alone or struggling, while also navigating your own emotions in a new place. That takes real strength.
The season may not look like it used to, but it can still feel like the holidays — through connection, kindness, and the way you choose to carry your traditions forward.
At XPRT Staffing, we understand that travel nurses are balancing more than contracts — you’re balancing life on the move. If you’re looking for holiday-season assignments that fit your goals, schedule, and lifestyle, we’re here to help you find the right opportunity and support you through every step.
Explore travel roles and new opportunities through XPRT Staffing.
