Losing: Sleep, weight, friends, emotion, MY MIND!

casi, ASN, RN · Apr 7, 2007

I know almost exactly how you feel. I don't think I've gone quite as far, but I've still been there.

Thankfully I'm starting to get out of it though. While I was in the no sleep, no social life funk I didn't miss it. Over Christmas break I got together with a couple of old friends and realized HOW much I missed having friends and a life. Oddly enough if it weren't for friends pushing me to take care of myself I'd still be hermitted to my room and work with minimal sleep. I can't tell you how many times I've had the conversation with friends that goes a bit like this:

"Casi, you need to sleep and take care of yourself."

"I can sleep in 3 years."

I do urge you to take care of yourself. I know it's hard to find time, but if you find that you're losing the person you once were to your studies it means your going to far and it's not quite worth it anymore.

Pinky05 · Apr 7, 2007

I'm at about half of what you described. It's terrible, but now that I barely sleep my grades are awesome. My friends don't try to ask if I want to hang out anymore. I hung out with my best friend today (I've barely really had deep conversation with her for 3 months) and I feel bad that I've missed out on so much. I've actually gained 4 pounds because when I get stressed I pig out. And I have a few other bad habits you listed. Luckily my classes are almost over (until summer anyway).

justme1972 · Apr 7, 2007

Does any of this sound familiar to you hard working pre-nursing

students!?? :uhoh3:

1.) Absolutely NO social life.

I know how you feel...most of the students I am in school with have put this part of our lives out to pasture for now, but reward yourself by doing something fun on major breaks...and DON'T feel guilty about it.

2.) Sleep is not a source of stress relief anymore... I find myself studying in my sleep (seriously, I repeat things over and over and can't get a good night of sleep; I wake up feeling like I never went to sleep)

I am not an advocate of pills...I just don't take them, however, about every two weeks I take a mild-sleep aid for ONE night, I go to bed early to compensate for it...and I have been suprised at how much of a difference this makes.

3.) Haven't done my laundry in FOREVER, I am down to my plain white tees and buying new briefs from walmart on the way home from class since it takes less time than actually doing the laundry!!

4.) Losing weight because I don't have enough time to cook well rounded meals; living off of nutri-grain bars and bottled water b/c it is quick. (not a good thing; only 135 lbs and 5'8... feel like I will blow away in the wind.)

Both of these are linked...you don't feel like doing anything because you aren't eating properly, and your energy is low. Get some nutritious frozen dinners or eat out at a "home cooking" restaurant at least twice a week. Never skip breakfast (I heat Smart Start with Soy protein, it has a TON of protein in it)...a little trick I do for salads (as they are expensive to make) is I go to a local salad bar and get a "to go" salad...I ONLY put the ingredients in..not lettuce, into my container..then I buy the lettuce and VOILA...effortless salad that lasts for a couple of days.

5.) Spend my down time scheduling my studies.

6.) Losing touch of emotion.

7.) Losing my sense of humor.

At least ONE evening a week...commit yourself to doing NO homework, studying, nothing. My day is Friday afternoons...I don't feel guilty because whatever I have to do, I can do on Saturday.

8.) Lost any kind of tan that I once had.

You are low on vitamin D from lack of sun...this can affect your mood as well.

9.) Rescheduling dentist, doctor, etc. appointments for the end of the semester b/c it buys me some more studying time.

I don't think this is a bad thing...I do the same.

10.) Losing my 20/15 vision, all I look at is computer text and of course textbook text and now I can barely read things that are far away.

The adult attention span is 50 minutes...take at least a 5 minute break, or when you get "tired" do mindless things such as making note cards of vocabulary, etc.

11.) Friends don't call b/c they already know the answer to "Hey Jon, what are you doing tonight?"

They still need to be supportive, as I am sure you would be to them. Yes, my circle of friends is already changing...if they are not, then they weren't a real friend.

12.) Doing more random good deeds in hopes that it will help somehow! lol

I THINK THIS IS GREAT! YOU ARE DOING ALL THAT YOU CAN, AND THIS IS TOUGH ON EVERYONE! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

amf1987 · Apr 7, 2007

Does any of this sound familiar to you hard working pre-nursing
students!??
1.) Absolutely NO social life.
2.) Sleep is not a source of stress relief anymore... I find myself studying in my sleep (seriously, I repeat things over and over and can't get a good night of sleep; I wake up feeling like I never went to sleep)
3.) Haven't done my laundry in FOREVER, I am down to my plain white tees and buying new briefs from walmart on the way home from class since it takes less time than actually doing the laundry!!
4.) Losing weight because I don't have enough time to cook well rounded meals; living off of nutri-grain bars and bottled water b/c it is quick. (not a good thing; only 135 lbs and 5'8... feel like I will blow away in the wind.)
5.) Spend my down time scheduling my studies.
6.) Losing touch of emotion.
7.) Losing my sense of humor.
8.) Lost any kind of tan that I once had.
9.) Rescheduling dentist, doctor, etc. appointments for the end of the semester b/c it buys me some more studying time.
10.) Losing my 20/15 vision, all I look at is computer text and of course textbook text and now I can barely read things that are far away.
11.) Friends don't call b/c they already know the answer to "Hey Jon, what are you doing tonight?"
12.) Doing more random good deeds in hopes that it will help somehow! lol
THE LIST CONTINUES!!!
Very disturbed... but for some reason... it feels good. I am taking advantage of the opportunity I have been given. I never knew I could push myself so far, I am proving to myself that I can do great things ... I am becoming a machine. The payoff will be great in the long run. Oh yeah, thank God for family... they are truly supportive and I owe them.
Currently listening to "No Quarter" -- Led Zeppelin... WOW
:gandalf:"YOU SHALL NOT PASS"... lol Gandalf.

Hahaha it all sounds VERY familar!! I can relate to basically all of that, especially number 11. Its funny because my bf and I used to go to alot of parties during the week nights, but I began to study so much and friends would ask so much where I was, rather than saying studying because its become so funny and rountine, hes now just like 'uhh shes busy!!'

jonb1213 · Apr 7, 2007

Haha you guys are great... Hopefull, thanks for the in-depth advice, I really got a lot out of it (and I love the salad idea!!).

AN.com is a major source of stress relief. I feel great this morning

Casi, "I can sleep in 3 years" hahahahaha

Once again, you guys are awesome.

:lol2:

krenee · Apr 7, 2007

Yes, to a lot of that! Social life, I go out with a friend maybe once a month. Laundry, well, I have three kids and no job outside the home, so I make myself do one load a day BUT the rest of the house is pretty awful most of the time, looks like a tornado went through. LOL I wish I lost weight but I haven't much, I had to cut my workouts from an hour a day to 1/2 hour so that doesn't help. Yes, I also study in my sleep and when I wake up I'm so frustrated because I want to get out of my own head!

I do try to get to bed at a decent hour - I don't get 8 hours but usually 7. I take my vitamin and eat fairly normally. I only study in 30 minute blocks, even if there's only 5 minutes in between I take a short break to stretch or whatever - it's hard on my back to sit for so long. And I take some time for me every night, usually to watch a show that I tape on the DVR (LOL, that's my bad eating time too).

I'm taking the summer off from school, however (might be my last summer off!) and I'm already worried about whatever will I do with myself when I don't have any studying to do! But I plan to clean, clean some more, organize, decutter, and get some home improvements done (painting etc). I'm sure the summer will go quickly, then back to the grind.

Just over ONE month left!

Kelly

purplemania, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2007

Remember, this is temporary. Once you have your license those same friends will be calling to ask you to "hang out your shingle" so they can get advice. Maybe you need to rethink your study habits. Do you need to have a study partner (someone as serious as you about succeeding)? Are you taking vitamins? You need protein. What about scrambled eggs for supper? I wish you every success!

jonb1213 · Apr 7, 2007

Remember, this is temporary. Once you have your license those same friends will be calling to ask you to "hang out your shingle" so they can get advice. Maybe you need to rethink your study habits. Do you need to have a study partner (someone as serious as you about succeeding)? Are you taking vitamins? You need protein. What about scrambled eggs for supper? I wish you every success!

Very true... and thank you. I do take a multivitamin every morning and I have been making a list of things that your body likes and does not like as I progress through my A&P class (lol I am going to stock up on vitamins, healthy food, etc. and email the list to all of my friends and family so they can know what is good and bad for them!! lol). I don't have a study partner, I am glad to help people (actually I am meeting with someone to help them today) but it seems like no one other than the professor can answer my questions... so groups just seem to hold me back a bit because the ones I have met with just seem like "the blind leading the blind"!!!

:lol2:

Don't get me wrong, I am going GREAT in class... because all I do is study lol. The good grades drive me and the bad ones kill me.

Good idea about the eggs... I can put them in a bowl, nuke 'em and have a quick source of protein!!

AmericanChai · Apr 7, 2007

Sounds like you are a very dedicated student and it's going to pay off someday!! :)

I have 3 and 6 year old kids and am a SAHM during the week. I am at the library right now studying (well supposed to be) and my dh is taking care of the kids. It's a vacation for me. :lol

vicky3269 · Apr 7, 2007

"Very disturbed... but for some reason... it feels good. I am taking advantage of the opportunity I have been given. I never knew I could push myself so far, I am proving to myself that I can do great things ... I am becoming a machine. The payoff will be great in the long run. Oh yeah, thank God for family... they are truly supportive and I owe them."

LOL, great thread, cause you remind me exactly of myself! But ESPECIALLY your last paragraph (above), as I truly feel the same way. At 41 I never knew I had this in me. I too have become a machine, but it feels wonderful and I am so proud of myself. I am 41, and I went back to school 3 years ago to take night classes (I work full time during the day) and have a 4.0 gpa! My science classes are all done, I only have a few minor classes to take (humanities, etc.) and am waiting to hear back from 3 nursing schools. Life is good!

Vicky

Chicklet2 · Apr 8, 2007

That's not only pre nursing... I've been an LPN for a yr and a half and i'm still doing some of that stuff.. i have no social life b/c i'm working full time evenings and part time days. I'm lucky if i can do laundry once every two weeks.. dont have much time to cook meals.. if i do i make lots and freeze it. And well i'm also working part time nights.. so sleep is hard to come by.. good luck..