jemz21

I agree with everything that's been said above. I worked nonstop for 2.5 years and it eventually got the best of me. I think the only reason I managed to survive without losing my sanity or my job was that I tried to sneak in some self-care time once in awhile. I just got back from a 1-month leave feeling energized and rejuvenated. Of course, it helps that I'm already planning my next leave in 6 months. Self-care should be your priority. You can't be of help to others when you can't even help yourself. It is not selfish to put yourself first. Exercising is definitely one of the best ways to let off some steam. I played RockBand on Wii with my son almost everyday for the past couple of years because beating on those drums really helped me get the frustrations out. Take the time for yourself and even though it's sometimes easier said than done, do try to leave work at work.

I have always been worried about losing my "skills" since I decided to go into Psych Nursing. However, I always believed that if you really want to learn, re-learn your skills, you can.