Bored on weekdays!

[cblue152]

Hi! I'm a single mom who's been working weekend option (7a-7p Sat-Mon) for six years. It's been the best thing for my kiddo's schedule. However, it's really starting to wear on me mentally because the weekdays are long and lonely while he's at school and most other people are at work.

I'm in the middle of the hiring process for the VA, which would mean every other weekend off. However, in the meantime, I'm bored out of my mind on weekdays. There's only so much cleaning and exercise one can do. I'm thinking about getting a bike for warmer weather, but honestly I think the biggest thing is the loneliness.

Edit: yes, I get that I need to figure out what I enjoy. I'm asking what others do in their time off so I can get some ideas. I'd also like to know how other nurses handle the loneliness that sometimes comes with working opposite schedules from the rest of the world.

[Sour Lemon]

What does it matter what anyone else does? What interests YOU? I wish my kids were in school. I'd be all over the "darn" place.

[cblue152]

What does it matter what anyone else does? What interests YOU? I wish my kids were in school. I'd be all over the "darn" place.

Eek. This is the answer I'm not looking for lol. Clearly I'm having a tricky time with that, which is why I'm asking for ideas. I want to know how others make the most of the amount of free time that comes with working only three 12s. Or how they manage not to feel so lonely being on an opposite schedule from the rest of the world.

I've tried various hobbies. I'm looking into some places to volunteer. But what's the harm in asking what other people do to fill the time?

[bugya90, ASN, BSN, LVN, RN]

Would you/could you pick up a prn job for durring the week to help occupy some of the time? I'm the same way where if I have too much time off in a row I get bored. I can only clean, read and watch so much TV before I'm going stir crazy.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Sign up to be a substitute school nurse so you can work the same hours that your kids are gone for some extra money a few days a week?

[Archerlpvn, LPN, LVN]

Probably one of the easiest and most flexible things you could do is get with an agency and do some prn home health visits. You could pick as many as you want and make it work with your schedule?

[ItsThatJenGirl, CNA]

I'd read all the books.

[Cat365]

I have a dog and I work on training or veg on the couch in "snuggle time" with her.

I read a lot. Mostly fiction. In the summer I garden. I've done a lot of cross stitching while listening to audio books. I'll likely be going back to school later this year. I like hiking, kayaking, and napping.

I'm stopping here because this is starting to sound like a singles ad.

[saskrn]

I have a dog and I work on training or veg on the couch in "snuggle time" with her.

I read a lot. Mostly fiction. In the summer I garden. I've done a lot of cross stitching while listening to audio books. I'll likely be going back to school later this year. I like hiking, kayaking, and napping.

I'm stopping here because this is starting to sound like a singles ad.

[saskrn]

Hi! I'm a single mom who's been working weekend option (7a-7p Sat-Mon) for six years. It's been the best thing for my kiddo's schedule. However, it's really starting to wear on me mentally because the weekdays are long and lonely while he's at school and most other people are at work.

I'm in the middle of the hiring process for the VA, which would mean every other weekend off. However, in the meantime, I'm bored out of my mind on weekdays. There's only so much cleaning and exercise one can do. I'm thinking about getting a bike for warmer weather, but honestly I think the biggest thing is the loneliness.

Edit: yes, I get that I need to figure out what I enjoy. I'm asking what others do in their time off so I can get some ideas. I'd also like to know how other nurses handle the loneliness that sometimes comes with working opposite schedules from the rest of the world.

I've been in a somewhat similar position as you, so I can relate to what you're saying.

Loneliness is the worst. The best thing we ever did was adopt two dogs. These two are little troublemakers, and I LOVE them! Dogs really are man's best friend. It must be all that unconditional love!

The best way to find things to do is through trial and error. Things that I like, and maybe some ideas:

music

movies (Netflix or theater)

knitting, crocheting

craft classes

gardening

volunteering

church

reading

taking classes (either work related, educational in other ways, or recreational.)

swimming

sports (especially when the weather warms up.)

just getting out of the house (library, rec center, mall, window shopping downtown, museum, whatever interests you.)

get a part time job doing something that interests you, and maybe completely different than nursing.

Good luck! :)

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

Man, this is a hard scenario for me to imagine. I value my alone time and wish I had more of it.

I would think you could volunteer at your kids school, meet up with your husband or friends on their lunch hours, volunteer at a library or something, join a book club or a knitting club or a gourmet club or whatever is your speed, take a class of some kind, wonder the mall aimlessly, try new recipes, visit your parents or grandparents if they're in the area. I can go on.

Do you live in a rural area or something?

[djmatte, ADN, MSN, RN, NP]

My down times usually consist of video games, music production, coffee shops where I can get my people fix, and/or going to the gym. And there's also this awesome 1 hour I spend in a panic as I rush to clean the house before my wife gets home after a day of laziness. :)