Is there a way to get my mind of work/nursing when I am not at work?

[Convoy2022_TrumpSupporter]

Like I work at a retirement home since Feb and its my first job. I work evening shift 1500-2300. I always have this feeling when I get home that I forgot something or I made a mistake and the morning shift will report it etc..

 

My mind is extremely devoted to my patients on my shift so I try to avoid all of that. Sometimes its hard to sleep cause I think about these things.

 

My supervisor told me, don't think about work when its not work and if something comes up then deal with it at work not when you are at home.

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

This takes practice, and in my experience, you need something else to occupy your mind with. It's not very helpful to just keep telling yourself, "Don't think about work!" Think of a few things you enjoy doing while at home, getting ready to sleep, etc. Maybe reading, meditation, listening to music, whatever. When you catch your mind drifting (it will at first), you'll have something to bring yourself back to.

[speedynurse, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Agree with the above suggestion. It is very hard to get used to leaving work at work. I struggled with this for the longest time but a lot had to do with the high stress of my unit. Things that have helped  me.....don’t check your work email when you are not at work, find a hobby even if all it is is something like hiking or learning a basic skill, don’t pull overtime if you don’t absolutely need it, etc.

[Subee2, BSN, MSN, CRNA]

Yoga.  You can't think about anything else when you try to control your breathing so that every breath is smooth.   Not an easy skill but really works well.  Do 50 jumping jacks first and then lie still and try to breathe quietly and rhythmically.  You can't help but unwind:)  You discover what the relaxed state is supposed to feel like.  We forget that feeling in our overpaced jobs.

[RNperdiem, RN]

I use the commute home to do mental processing of my day. I go over things that are bothering me, make plans, resolutions, peace with the universe. I think of all that went right, and give thanks for all the good things. By the time I get home, my mind is mostly clear. The disadvantage of you working five days a week is that there are fewer days off a week to recover your equilibrium.