Next Day Off

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jul 7, 2019

I feel 1000% better in general with a consistent exercise routine. Currently I am into using a rower; I used to be a daily runner, but that has gone to the wayside in deference to a chronic hip injury. Do you exercise? There are free yoga classes on YouTube that my husband and I started called "30 Days of Yoga with Adrienne" that are wonderful! Get some self-care in there. ? Water intake, healthy food, etc.

Orion81RN · Jul 7, 2019

I feel like crap the day after and sleep away the day and lounge. I don't have healthy coping mechanisms ? I spend the day mentally, emotionally and physically recuperating. My husband and I often want to plan activities, then I back out being too drained.

K+MgSO4, BSN · Jul 7, 2019

I used to swim at a local pool, I miss that house - just at the end of a very short street a public pool. Absolutely agree exercise is the key, a proper exercise routine even it is only a 30 min walk outside.

Imustbedreaming · Jul 8, 2019

Yes all above, I'm thinking that exercise and hydration helps remove the cortisol and increases serotonin. Orion, I feel this way now. Pixie and K+, great advice. I'm going to research this further. This is important.

OUxPhys, BSN, RN · Jul 9, 2019

Sometimes after working 3 brutal 12's I spend the 1st day off doing absolutely nothing. I know that probably isn't then healthiest thing to do but its more for mental health than physical. Ive been trying to stay consistent with exercise on my off days.

Ashley_SF, BSN · Jul 9, 2019

I am off today after working yesterday and I can relate to your post. I feel so drained and foggy, my body aches and it was an effort to get out of bed.

I started a new position a few months ago which requires me to work in many different areas; ICU, transplant, med surg, pediatrics, adult, etc.. sometimes in the same day. I'm hoping that after a few more months I'll adjust.

In the past I've done what others have mentioned and made sure I exercised regularly. I definitely feel better.. but getting my butt to the gym has been very challenging lately.

I still eat healthy, protect my sleep routine and drink plenty of water. I'm usually rested for work, but I'm a zombie on my off days.

And yes, I definitely have a harder time after a more emotionally stressful day. Recently I've been in the habit of making up songs and doing silly dances at work when I have a private moment. This helps me to shake the stress off ?

KeepinitrealCCRN · Jul 9, 2019

zombie

NormaSaline · Jul 10, 2019

What a relevant topic, and I love the answers. Most everyone seems to focus on exercise. No doubt about it, it is key to clearing the mind of what I call the same blah blah recording that's looping in my brain. Eating healthy is also important. I find myself slipping at work, sometimes, and will go pounce on a candy bar when I feel stressed. Then I go back to not eating sugar, but it’s tough in the moment not to break down. Sleep is huge as well, and here again, exercise comes back in to play a large role. I try to build in exercise into my day as much as possible so that going to the gym is not an extra time-consuming activity (walking to errands, gardening, exercising at home). I’ll add one more suggestion: Dr Weil’s 4-7-8 breathing. And praying.

The observation that the first day off after a string of 3 or 4 days on, is awful is a good one. I think it has to do with going from 70 mph (witnessing several close calls or outright crashes along the way) to zero or 15 mph. There's also the death by a thousand cuts - the micro insults we endure, and I often project onto others feelings that in fact are not there. That's a personal foible that is supremely unhelpful.

Basically, there’s a lot to process and work through, and this is not possible in real time, apparently.

GSDlvrRN, MSN · Jul 10, 2019

1 hour ago, NormaSaline said:
What a relevant topic, and I love the answers. Most everyone seems to focus on exercise. No doubt about it, it is key to clearing the mind of what I call the same blah blah recording that's looping in my brain. Eating healthy is also important. I find myself slipping at work, sometimes, and will go pounce on a candy bar when I feel stressed. Then I go back to not eating sugar, but it’s tough in the moment not to break down. Sleep is huge as well, and here again, exercise comes back in to play a large role. I try to build in exercise into my day as much as possible so that going to the gym is not an extra time-consuming activity (walking to errands, gardening, exercising at home). I’ll add one more suggestion: Dr Weil’s 4-7-8 breathing. And praying.
The observation that the first day off after a string of 3 or 4 days on, is awful is a good one. I think it has to do with going from 70 mph (witnessing several close calls or outright crashes along the way) to zero or 15 mph. There's also the death by a thousand cuts - the micro insults we endure, and I often project onto others feelings that in fact are not there. That's a personal foible that is supremely unhelpful.
Basically, there’s a lot to process and work through, and this is not possible in real time, apparently.

I second that death by a thousand cuts. Sometimes I stay strong and stay strong at work, trying to shake off every insult or outburst by patients/ supervisors/ resident doctors. Every little frustration. It’s very hard to keep staying strong and letting things go sometimes and it doesn’t hit me until my day off. I’m like “Wow. What the **** did I just go through?”.

I spend time and jot down things that stung at work or things that frustrated me and close my journal and let it go. I also go to the gym always the next morning after a 3 day stretch of work. Then on my next Monday I’m getting dressed saying “Time to go to work and get spit at and sexually harassed! Heck yeah let’s do this!” Lol. By them I’m able to take on more.

K+MgSO4, BSN · Jul 10, 2019

This is something I found somewhere and really like for trying to maintain a work life balance

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Jul 11, 2019

If I have nothing I need to do on that first day off I allow myself to zombie a bit. Sleep in, watch stuff I DVR'd the days I was working, read a book. Nothing wrong with a day of rest to recharge the internal batteries.