How Do You Unwind?

Nursing Students CNA/MA

Published

What's your favorite way to blow off steam after work? What helps you to let go of the day's stress? Does anything take your mind off of work or do you replay the day over and over in your head?

Specializes in psychiatric and substance abuse.

It isn't always easy to "unwind". I travel 2+ hours to get to work, cluster a few shifts together, sleep at my mom's house without my hubby : ( and then head back home for a few days and head back down and do it all over again. I work on a psych/substance floor so things can be pretty stressful to say the least. I am a big fan of yoga, and especially "hot yoga". I try to always take in at least one class when I am down for work. When I am in a yoga class there is nothing else on my mind except for what I am doing at that moment and I leave there with my mind at peace and my body energized. I also find that eating a healthy diet, with emphasis on whole grains, fruits, and vegetables really makes me feel healthy, enhances my ability to cope and helps me to unwind a little easier. A great walk along the coast, listening to my favorite tunes is another way I help myself to unwind especially since I don't live near the coast, but work near it. When I return home unwinding comes pretty easy, I get to see my hubby, my kitty, the beautiful mountains that surround my valley and all is good!

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Hop on my motorcycle and go for a ride! If I can't do that, some Pepsi and chocolate helps a lot!

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firing up the xbox 360 to go online and proceed to stab, chainsaw, snipe, grenade, rocket, teabag, blowup, shot, etc... other players.

ah, what fun, hehe.

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firing up the xbox 360 to go online and proceed to stab, chainsaw, snipe, grenade, rocket, teabag, blowup, shot, etc... other players.

ah, what fun, hehe.

The strangest part is that you probably know how to treat all of them once you're finished.

Somebody page the OR.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg.
firing up the xbox 360 to go online and proceed to stab, chainsaw, snipe, grenade, rocket, teabag, blowup, shot, etc... other players.

ah, what fun, hehe.

Wait, what game? You've probably teabagged my brother multiple times.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg.
it isn't always easy to "unwind". i travel 2+ hours to get to work, cluster a few shifts together, sleep at my mom's house without my hubby : ( and then head back home for a few days and head back down and do it all over again. i work on a psych/substance floor so things can be pretty stressful to say the least. i am a big fan of yoga, and especially "hot yoga". i try to always take in at least one class when i am down for work. when i am in a yoga class there is nothing else on my mind except for what i am doing at that moment and i leave there with my mind at peace and my body energized. i also find that eating a healthy diet, with emphasis on whole grains, fruits, and vegetables really makes me feel healthy, enhances my ability to cope and helps me to unwind a little easier. a great walk along the coast, listening to my favorite tunes is another way i help myself to unwind especially since i don't live near the coast, but work near it. when i return home unwinding comes pretty easy, i get to see my hubby, my kitty, the beautiful mountains that surround my valley and all is good!

i want to walk on the coast after work! alas, i need to move...

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Specializes in LTC, CPR instructor, First aid instructor..

Replay the day over and over in my mind, then I turn on the TV and zone out on favorite shows.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Family Practice, Geriatrics.

I generally come home, strip and head for a hot shower... where I replay the days, or nights events in my head and beat myself up about what I could've or should've done differently and try to visualize all the crapola washing down the drain. Then of course while all the replaying is going on I generally remember some little "detail" that I left out of report or didn't chart. (I have called back to work to add that lil diddy)

Then... depending on how long of a shift I've worked, which one and if I have to work the next day I surf the net, ride my motorcycle or play the fiddle. I've found the fiddle works really well because I'm thinking about chording and there's no room for work then..:smokin:

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Specializes in MedSurg/Tele.

Depends on just how bad the day is...either go for a run, watch a movie, or make a stiff drink.

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Specializes in LT, skilled, IV, pediatrics.

I come home to a "happy-to-see-me" Rottadore puppy (Rottweiler/Labrador mix) ;)

He climbs in my lap when I get home, I sit with him for awhile petting and talking to him and he calms me down. I tell him all my issues with the shift and he just sits there, wagging his tail and licking my hand, like he's saying "It's ok, Mamma". I watch a little Adult Swim on TV, then hit the sack for the evening. Come morning, I'm engergized, making coffee and then I take my Rottadore for nice long walk before doing it all over again on the PM shift!

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Specializes in Medical Surgical, Neurology.

I go line dancing (country style) on my days off!

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It is SO hard for me to unwind sometimes after work, since we are on sensory overload all day! If I have to work the next day, I just take a melatonin and hit the sack! Works better than ambien and doesn't leave me drowsy the next morning. If I don't have to work, I just chill and read. Keep it quiet. :D

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