How do YOU keep sane?

eltrip · Jun 20, 2002

Hmmm...how DO I stay sane? Prayer, & lots of it...Singing with the "praise team" at church-those weekly rehearsals do more for me than an hour with a counselor...whacking at weeds in the garden...hanging out with my hubby & my little girl...petting the cat & letting him sleep in my lap (when he's not been rolling in poison ivy-oy!)...reading voraciously...baking cookies...listening to music...all of it keeps this girl on an even keel!

Baking tonight! Yum!

Joy

Sleepyeyes · Jun 20, 2002

If I have achieved some semblance of normalcy in my life, I really have to credit God and the Pentecostal church, because I have more fun dancing and singing at church than at the wildest nightclub scene.

I also like jazzercise.

I try to get outta the house, even if it's to go down to the Pier and watch the sunset.

Yesterday, because I didn't wanna waste a same-day-off-as-hubby, we gave him an early birthday present, and went deep-sea fishing. First time. Rough seas. Spent the entire day barfing. In between hurls, I got some nice pictures and caught a cute lil ol' fish called a porgey, so the day wasn't a total loss. Also noted that with barfing, lungs cleared quite well (though I don't recommend it as a treatment....)

So any time I get sick of work, I'll go on a boat in rough seas. I tell ya, that'd make coal mines look good.... :chuckle

:cool:

NurseDennie, BSN, RN · Jun 21, 2002

Well, like a bunch of you, I think that sanity is just way over-rated. I decided a long time ago, that I was going to just go ahead and be crazy and save my sanity in case I needed it later.

So far, I haven't.

When I was under intense stress on the floor, I would go into my "showgirl" walk. I pretend that I have a 50# headdress with feathers and lace that drags 10' behind me, and turn sorta sideways. One arm extended all the way in front, one all the way in back. Slow, L - O - N - G steps, bending my knees deeply. I also hum "A pretty girl is like a melody" and walk to that beat. After a few bars, I pause, acknowledge the applause of the audience, and change my stance, if the left hand was forward, now it's in back. And so on down the hall.

It's killer.

A couple of other nurses have taken up doing it as well. I don't know why it works so well.

Hysterical laughter is good, too. I know it can be upsetting to the onlooker, but I invariably enjoy it. I think it adds years to my life.

I don't take any drugs (I tried Prozac during a brief and very unfortunate stint with a psychiatrist and it made me COLD and I haven't warmed up since and it's been four years!) and I can't be bothered to drink very much. One time I did drink a lot of champagne and got drunk. I had NO pain. That was very nice, but the delusion that I COULD, if I WANTED to, get into the car and drive, and nobody would suspect that I was drunk was disturbing. I had no intention of DOING it (I'd worked three 12's in a row and I was tired, and just enjoying not having ANYTHING hurt during the drunken period of time) but I truly thought that I could do! I guess that would be an example of the well known lack of judgment on the part of drunken persons?

I derive a great deal of pleasure in my family and pets and friends, and you know..... Life, the Universe and Everything.

Love

Dennie

RNinICU · Jun 24, 2002

Family, and having a life outside of work are very important. I love to read, mostly sci-fi and fantasy, and we go out to dinner and a movie at least twice a month. Lots of exercise, and when I really need cheering up, I put on some loud music, preferably oldies, and dance like a fool. Rock and roll can be very therapeutic.

rondafan · Jul 4, 2002

How I do I stay sane? I work like Hell (45 + hours a week) all year long & let Uncle Sam take a little extra a pay check. Then when I get my income tax check I take a week off & go to some exotic beach. So far only Jamaica, & Cancun but it really works to be pampered if only for a week at an all inclusive resort. This year we decided to go around Thanksgiving & spend it out of the country with just hubby & kids. Jamica was so good for my soul. I think their national motto is NO WORRIES MON! :cool:

Cherry Soda · Jul 4, 2002

It's very hard to remain sane when you are a nurse.

I try not to think about work until I'm physically there. But it is hard....

When I work two nights in a row, I dream about work and never feel refreshed!

Anyway.....

I love to read, surf the 'net and listen to music. Music saves me. Laughing with friends helps. My fiance is a doll and we have a lot of fun together.

Cherry

BLCaldwell · Jul 4, 2002

After 37 years as an RN I've decided that it helps to be a little bit off of plumb in order to enjoy what you do.... Only in nursing if you get fed up and want to take this job and stuff it can you change speeds and not have to start over. For example, tired of med-surg? Try ER... Tired of ICU... Try agency. Tired of hospital? Try Clinic. Tired of snow... head to the south! Tired of the sun? NEVER! When it really gets to the point where you have been there and done that. You frequently get told that you are over qualified... The worst....your coffee cup collection numbers over 200 and the far bathroom wall is covered in old licenses from various and sundry places... Do you boldly go where few venture??? WELCOME... to psychiatry. Where everyone is neurotic, it' s when they get psychotic that you worry... Have to figure out who is whom---- do they have a bracelet or a set of keys? Hmmmmmmmmm

To keep sane sometimes it just takes putting some distance, literally or figuratively, into your perspective. Can I change it? Will it change me? If I ain't part of the solution- am I part of the problem? If it ain't mine, I refuse to own it....

James Huffman · Jul 4, 2002

I work out of a home office, and my clients know it's OK to call me at (almost) any hour. I've done this for a long time, and I'm used to the inevitable phone calls at crazy times, and on what everyone thinks is a holiday. (Two business calls today, July 4th, for example). I basically work 6 days a week, and don't take a lot of time off.

So how do I keep sane? For the most part, I think keeping sane starts with doing something you want to do, the way you want to. But when everything starts to get to me ...

1. There's nothing like a long walk. (My "walks" are usually more of what other people would call hikes, but that's another question).

2. Vegging out on some mindless TV works too. I seldom watch TV, so occasionally give myself a treat. CMT, MTV, or BET music videos can work wonders.

3. Perhaps better is a movie in a theater, where the phone won't ring. (I leave my pager at home).

4. But finally a few minutes of pondering why I work: I think about my wife and children, who are long-suffering with me, put up with my opinionated ways, and generally tolerant of my occasional need to be alone. That makes it worth it.

Jim Huffman

http://www.networkfornurses.com

goldawgz · Jul 4, 2002

I chant "FRIDAYFRIDAYFRIDAY!!!!" I work in an office for an Internal Med doc, and our off day is Friday----It makes the tyrant's undiagnosed bipolar sociopath narcisstic disorder much easier to tolerate!!!!!!!!!HA!

Lisamrod · Jul 4, 2002

To stay sane I try to find the positive side to things... and laughter! Of course there's always the occasionally "vent" to a friend or that one patient that you pray for a shed a tear for.

MQ Edna · Jul 4, 2002

It was Paxil for me--I was finally able to taper off after 1)retirement 2) lumpectomy 3) radiation therapy, and 4) a year in remission. I would have started the taper earlier, but....

thisnurse · Jul 5, 2002

ok since you asked me real nice ill tell you my secret at no charge...i have long ago lost my sanity. i am so utterly insane i now look sane. i smile a lot .