What do you do for yourself?

I pound a racquetball to death before work.. it relieves oh so much stress...

it makes me feel good and loose before work... and a little workout makes work feel better too...that whole endorphin thing...

--Barbara, LPN

I do different things. If the patients were threatening and violent, I have a 70 pound bag I beat on till my knuckles bleed. If the docs have really hard to deal with, I may spend 15 mins or doing a Tai Chi set. Often I vent to my wife who is also an RN.

The thing is to find what works for you. We give so much every shift, we have to get it back somehow. When the ER has been pediatrics all night, I like to hug my son right after work. Make me feel a lot better.

Three main things I find are life savers in a stress-crunch pre or post shift. Number one: my jacuzzi bathtub in the master bathroom. HYDROTHERAPY, oooooo yeah!! Number two: my elliptical machine in my living room...pound the *#@!! out of it for 30 minutes to release stress/anger/whatnot. Number three: self-hypnosis, which sounds nuts, but actually works and is pretty damn calming. Plus, you can do it in ONE minute while you're running to the stock room to ESCAPE YOUR PATIENTS .

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STRESS CAN KILL SO YOU NEED TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. I DO A FEW THINGS TO HELP COPE. 1. I KEEP MY LIFE PRIORITIES STRAIGHT. 2.I KEEP A SENSE OF HUMOR, SOME DAYS IT IS THE ONLY THING THAT PREVENTS ME FROM COMMITING A FELONY.3. I SOAK IN THE HOT TUB WITH A GOOD GLASS OF WINE..YOU MUST SPOIL YOURSELF SOMETIME TO REMIND YOU THAT YOUR SPECIAL,TOO. HOPE THIS HELPS.

Try to prepare healthy snacks to bring with you to work to eat throughout the day...lots of fruit, veggies, crackers. I also eat small, more frequent meals. You won't be starving and stuff yourself with fast food or something like that. Have u ever thought about kickboxing? I swear it is the quickest way to burn calories (and stress) and tone your muscles at the same time. Try to buy a workout video or take a class, if you are in to that. If you stick to it, it will get u in shape, fast. I'm in school, and exercising is the best thing for me, plus I choose not to get emotionally involved with patients.

SusanMary: Go girl! Gotta give you credit for stopping the race to rethink your stress track. It is great to hear everyone's suggestions for destressing. Unfortunately, stress is part of our jobs and won't go away. If you want to survive it, you need defensive measures! I would add to the other excellent suggestions: When you really want to make exercise part of your life, it helps to pencil the time in your schedule. Actually write it in. It is an essential appointment of great importance to you/your body/your mind--it deserves the formality in your calander. Congratulations on opening the door to the true secret of happiness....my motto: "Give to yourself daily".

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L.Smo RN

Originally posted by lsmo:

SusanMary: Go girl! Gotta give you credit for stopping the race to rethink your stress track. It is great to hear everyone's suggestions for destressing. Unfortunately, stress is part of our jobs and won't go away. If you want to survive it, you need defensive measures! I would add to the other excellent suggestions: When you really want to make exercise part of your life, it helps to pencil the time in your schedule. Actually write it in. It is an essential appointment of great importance to you/your body/your mind--it deserves the formality in your calander. Congratulations on opening the door to the true secret of happiness....my motto: "Give to yourself daily".

Thanks so much for the encouragement. Have really appreciated everyone's advice. Been taking BABY STEPS -- started walking and am making a true attempt at eating healthier. Fell off the bandwagon yesterday, but did much better today. I'm on vacation, and having a great time staying home with my family.

My question still stands: How do you destress? What do you do for yourself?

I have finally gotten myself to the point that I have discovered there is truth to a runners high. At least 3 times a week, before work, I hit the treadmill for a minimum of 35 minutes. It really helps me destress and puts my mind in a good place for the day. I also start to crave my runs and actually dream about running if I am unable to keep up going. With the increased stresses of management that I have taken on in the last few months, it has really helped me.

Also backrubs from my fiancee help a lot!!

Any weightlifting nurses out there? I lift 3 times a week. It is fun, gets out tension & keeps the waist in shape.

I too lift weights. I started resistance training 2 yrs. ago and actually took the EAS body for life challange. I completed the 12 week program and have loved every experience from it. I did not win the contest but I did win my self-esteem back. The mother of 4 and 37 yrs. old I feel younger than my 18 year old. The challange motivated me, changed me inside and out. I still treadmill in the am before work and weight train in the pm. You MUST take time for yourself. Nurses give to everyone, please give a little to yourself.

Dance. Get home, put on the music and go to town. Also find doing cleaning to fast, music makes me feel better in more ways than one... save the breakable stuff for another day.

Read good books, write in a journal, or do crafts, experiment with different hobbies; knitting or crochetting, painting. Plan and plant a garden. Exercise regularly, walking or jogging( I've been using a treadmill to run and also lifting weights)

I do not believe in snacking between meals !!! Seeing people constantly shoving foods in their faces repulses me, especially if they are already obese. We won't starve if we eat 3 balanced meals a day.

No fast food, and No junk food!! It's a lifestyle choice and you'll feel better about yourself trust me.