Do you ever feel guilty about....

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Corrections, Cardiac, Hospice.

not doing a blessed thing on your day off? I worked a 5 day stretch that was just awful. We were short-staffed and had really sick patients and needy families. Besides, I think I cleaned up more poop in those 5 days than I cleaned in the last 11 years. So, anyway, on Tuesday, I sat on the couch and did NOTHING. Not a darn thing. I read a book and watched TV. Took my daughter to swim team practice, then later I took both my kiddos to karate class and then made hubby take me out to dinner after, lol. We invited another family to go with us and that mom asked me if I felt guilty when I told her about my day, um, nope, not at all. So tell me...When you take time out for just YOU, do you fell guilty?

Specializes in Operating Room Nursing.

I spent the entire day today perusing the internet and watching tv. I don't feel any guilt at all because I know come Monday I will be running around liked a blue orificed fly all day.

Specializes in Corrections, Cardiac, Hospice.
a blue orificed fly.

ROFLMAO! I will have to remember this one:lol2:

Specializes in Peds Hem, Onc, Med/Surg.

No.

I sleep all day. Sleep to me is sacred. I can never get enough of it.

When I am not sleeping, I play video games, watch tv, or read a book.

I don't go ANYTHING else. I stay in my PJs all day and don't go out. If I am hungry I order chinese food or pizza. I am the laziest person on my day off. =D

Nope!

Why should you feel guilty. My moto is " I work to live, not live to work" You work hard for 3 to 5 days, and your reward is a nice home, car and leisure time to do whatever you're soul desires. Life is too short to have every moment filled with activity. Take time to smell the roses

No guilt here. If I feel any guilt about my sloth like tendencies on a day off, I can always play XBox.

Specializes in dialysis (mostly) some L&D, Rehab/LTC.

Hell NO! I'm finishing up on a week long vacation and didn't go any place, do any thing special. I've just caught up on DVDs, relaxed and I feel great. I don't like coming home from a vacation to feel like I need another vacation from my vacation!

It's called re-filling the well. The people who don't take down time are the ones who burn out the quickest. And by down time, I mean doing the fun and mindless things that allow our spirits to breathe and rest. I don't mean cramming in all the busywork you can before you go back to work.

My house is usually a comfortable mess. Too much clutter, but still functional. But I'll tell you what--dh and I are world class snugglers. We love to sit and talk and make each other laugh. We can watch a movie and just enjoy each other's presence. Yeah, there are a million other things we could be doing, but we both work demanding jobs and revel in the chance to just simply be. Together.

When our kids were home, we spent time with them.

Feel guilty? I wish the house were a little neater, but I have no regrets about taking down time and having fun and making spouse and family time a priority. I know there are some who are spread too thin and they may not have a choice about packing their off-days full. But for anyone who does have a little breathing room, taking real down time can be an investment in the health of your relationships and your sanity overall.

BTW, anyone who asks you if you feel guilty about doing this may be jealous and wondering how to get off the merry-go-round herself. Please, continue to set her a good example.

Specializes in LTC, geriatric, psych, rehab.

No, I don't feel one bit guilty. I do what feels theraputic to me when I am off. If I don't, I'll never survive when I get back to work. You can't keep emptying the glass and expect there to still be something there. You have to take time to fill the glass also.

Specializes in corrections, psychiatric.
n I sat on the couch and did NOTHING. Not a darn thing. I read a book and watched TV. Took my daughter to swim team practice, then later I took both my kiddos to karate class and then made hubby take me out to dinner after, lol. We invited another family to go with us and that mom asked me if I felt guilty when I told her about my day, um, nope, not at all.

The mom is obviously not a nurse. I don't feel guilty at all. I am the breadwinner of the family and I think it's my RIGHT not to have to do a thing if I choose.... :lol2:

Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, educator.
No guilt here. If I feel any guilt about my sloth like tendencies on a day off, I can always play XBox.

For me it's the Wii!! I never feel guilty, and I'm weekends only, 2 days a week, but I have 2 teenage sons who tend to be in trouble more than not, so they make up for the 3rd day of work :D I relax all I can, I ain't gettin no younger!!!!

as far as housekeeping, as long as the junk doesn't attack anyone, who cares? Also, 200 yrs from now, who care if you had the cleanest house in town.

This is why I hated workin M-F, 7-330. I had to do all my erranding when everyone else that work M_F does their shopping, Dr appts, etc but most of all I need my me time during the week when no one else is home. Now that I work the 3 12s, I still value my alone time and waste no time feeling guilty!

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