Too tired to do anything on days off

[j0yegan]

Is it just me... or is it really hard to do anything on your days off because you are just so mentally and physically exhausted from work?

I am so tired on the days I'm not working that I honestly don't want to do anything but lie on the couch. Being a nurse is so difficult and draining. I know other employed people can be tired, too... but I just feel the nursing career is so different.

[Emergent, RN]

Maybe you should get a health check up, with labs done? Make sure they check your thyroid. Also, look at your dietary habits. A lot of nurses get in the bad habit of snacking on sugary junk all the time. And thirdly, some sort of exercise program can help get your energy up. You need to use energy to get energy!

[mommy_endeavor]

Sometimes stress can make you lose motivation :/

It's happened to me before.

Drink coffee and read/watch something inspirational.

You have to do self care!!

[toomuchbaloney]

I am often tired and unmotivated on days off.

Fortunately, my spouse is motivated and requires me to participate in the outings to the AK wilderness as well as evening bike rides.

[llg, PhD, RN]

How long have you worked in nursing? In my experience, the tiredness often improves a bit as you get used to a new job.

[NurseP00kie]

I second getting a check up w/ labs. If that comes back fine, you have to make yourself get up and do something. The hardest part is making yourself get up, but once your up and about, you will feel so much better!

[Caffeine_IV]

I find that adding some type of exercise helped me with this especially when it was cold outside. Even if just a short walk in the neighborhood will pep me up. Get some sunshine!

[j0yegan]

I just found out that it could also be an effect of birth control pills. :/

"tired, non-motivated, and less interested in sex"

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

You have not shared how long you have been a nurse, or what shift you are on.

If you are working night shift , this is to be expected. The brief time I was on nights, my circadian rhythm could not adjust.. I slept the entire time I was off.

Add to that the stress of nursing in general.. your fatigue is not unusual.

You are correct, nurses experience emotional and physical fatigue unique to the field.

Analyze your personal issues.. eat well, exercise and meditate.

Be well, let us know how it's going.

[j0yegan]

I work days. I have less than 5 years of experience. I eat well. I don't exercise much though. I consider work exercise. I "power walk" a lot at work.

[nalaa83]

I too feel tired on my days off and overwhelmed. I am a new nurse only 10 months of experience under my belt. I work during the day shift and when I have a day off all I do is lay around. Hopefully it gets better because this isn't something I want to do just work and waste my life away sort of speak by laying around.

[KRVRN, BSN, RN]

Work is physically tiring, but also very mentally tiring. Constantly thinking, assessing, reassessing. Chances are you didn't sleep enough because you are up at 0500. Look at this way too... Two 12 hr shifts back to back is like three 8 hr shifts, but with less sleep.