How do you de-stress?

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What is the best way to deal with the stress of the job? I'm a firm believer in exercise and the occasional glass of white wine. Any other suggestions? I'm a newbie (to nursing, not to stress) and am having trouble dealing with the really difficult days.

Specializes in Med-Surg.
bikram yoga!

Love Bikram! I wish it wasn't so expensive.

For me, stressbusting involves a holistic approach....good diet, exercise (to include yoga and stretching...just went to a class last night and came out so relaxed), meditation (I'm real lazy about this one), liesure actitivies like reading light hearted fiction/mysteries, Bollywood movies, sex (yes I did go there...too bad I'm single right now..LOL), and fun times with friends and family.

Having peers in real life, or online like here at Allnurses, to vent is important as well.

The trick is not to be stressed out about having to do stress-besting activities nor beat yourself up.

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Specializes in Dementia.

Get on the phone to talk to loved ones, or go out w/ friends.

Then theres yoga/pilates

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Specializes in Women's Health.

I see my chiropractor weekly..... I LOVE BILL!!!

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Specializes in med/surg, wound/ostomy.
I'm sitting here listening to Barry White you are my everything. It is in perfect time to the figures above and is stress reducing to watch and listen. Course, Barry recommends other things to de-stress ;-)

You said it!!

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Specializes in med/surg, wound/ostomy.

I love nothing more than a good laugh - guess that is why Funniest Home videos is one of my favorit shows. Need the laughs doing the job we do. I also enjoy knitting (anyone need socks??!!) and wine sure does help!! Then again, BV and ginger also works well!!!

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Specializes in OR, LTC.

Motorcycles, Poker, and Shooting! Nothing like riding to the range and popping 50 or 100 rounds. Playing a bunch of hands of cards does it for me too.

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Go running. Nothing revitalizes like a good long run, that delicious post-run drink of water and a nap.

A small garden is also nice. Sunlight and dirt are nature's tranquilizers.

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Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

I have a very hard time relaxing. Petting my dog helps. Target practice at the range is good sometimes and I have started an every Saturday movie with a friend of mine who is a nurse but who does not work with me. The best thing I did to control my stress was to change jobs and get a less stressful one. The new job carries a lot of responsibility but in a different way. It was the best move that I ever made. I hope I never have to work in a hospital again as long as I live.

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I pet my puppy, take a warm shower, and drink a bottle or 3 of wine. Haha ;)

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Specializes in ICU, ER.

I cook/bake! If I wasn't a nurse, I'd be a chef.

I also love snuggle-time with my furbabies after work.

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Specializes in Critical care.

To de-stress: I go home dim my lights, put on some soft music and drink a glass of wine.. actually a few glasses of wine..lol.

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Try to set a new goal for yourself. Work towards running a 5K, learning a new language, learning to knit, etc. It keeps your mind occupied outside of work and you get that feeling of accomplishment at the end!

I love listening to music on my ride home... stuff I can sing my heart out to! You can't think about work AND concentrate on being a pop star at the same time :)

There's something so calming about petting cats. If that makes me a crazy cat lady, so be it!

I love my Kindle. I wasn't a big reader before I got it, but now I read a lot more and find that it's really a good de-stressor. Who knew?

And of course.... there's the all time favorite: red wine!

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