FOMO: Fear Of Missing Out

[AdaMarie]

I have a relationship that means the world to me. She moved in with me just a month before school began. I have quickly entered the vortex of time that is full time nursing school with a little work on the side.

I have read countless threads about nursing school and its effect on relationships but they all focus on the actions of the partner. I feel like I'm going crazy because I have no reflective tools to understand my own behavior and feelings!

SO....

How does one cope with the feeling (sometimes jealousy) of missing out on a real "life" when your partner is free and running around having fun and living in a different world than you?

How do you maintain a healthy relationship when you are living such different schedules and even lives (as far as focuses go)?

In general I'd just appreciate some feedback on the nursing students perspective of themselves in their committed relationships.

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

My boyfriend and I had our 8 month anniversary yesterday. I know it's weird to say that, I just wanted you to know I am in a committed relationship with my soulmate. He lives an hour away so it's hard to see each other a lot, but we make it work.

I am a single mom with a son. I drive to his house on the nights I don't have my son. Not all but most. He comes up here as much as he can and we spend every weekend together. I take all of my stuff to his house and work while he is watching ESPN. I put my stuff away no later than 9pm on the nights we are together. Then we have our couple time. Last semester we didn't see each other for two weeks as I was trying to finish up the semester. He knew and understood. We know this is temporary.

I graduate next May. At that point we will start looking for houses and begin our life together. He is very supportive of me in nursing school. Some nights, he just comes up to get me and my son dinner and to entertain my son so we can study.

The most important thing is balance and to realize this is a short time in your life and the payoff later will be huge. There are times when he wants me to come there and I just tell him I can't. But I always make time for him and that is what is important. Don't let nursing school take over your life. Find a good balance.