What do you do for YOU every day, to keep sane..

babynurselsa, RN · Sep 17, 2005

I play with my kids. I find a good session of unbridled silliness keeps me from losing it. I don't just mean the little ones either. I am not above tackling the16 yearold in the floor and tickling her till she begs for mercy.

Gompers, BSN, RN · Sep 17, 2005

I take at least a half hour a day to soak in a warm bath. It helps in so many ways...

The peace and quiet is always good.

I usually bring a book or magazine and get some reading done.

I need to bathe anyways, so why not soak in a bath?

Being sqeaky clean is such a great feeling.

Plus...

Studies have actually shown HOW a warm bath relaxes you. The water raises the body temperature, and then when you get out and your body cools down very quickly, it's supposed to induce sleep.

prmenrs, RN · Sep 17, 2005

I laugh. Might have to work @ find something worth laughing about, but, laughing helps me.

The pets help, too. Nothing like stroking a purring cat on your lap or in your arms to straighten me up!

allnurses Guide · Sep 17, 2005

I play with my kids. I find a good session of unbridled silliness keeps me from losing it. I don't just mean the little ones either. I am not above tackling the16 yearold in the floor and tickling her till she begs for mercy.

Gosh, I remember the last time I actually did get my then 16 year old son down on the kitchen floor in a wrestling match. He had me pinned for the first time ever and I noticed on the counter above us was a carton of eggs . . .I reached for one and smashed it onto his head. He was shocked - I thought at first he was going to be mad . . but then we all dissolved into tearful laughter . .. . He couldn't believe I would actually do it.

He is 22 now . .. time flies.

I think doing things with my kids is #1 for me too.

#2 would be reading.

#3 would be some kind of exercise - especially outdoors.

steph

babynurselsa, RN · Sep 17, 2005

Gompers that sounds great and if I ever get to go into the bathroom alone again I am gonna try that. As it is I cannot go without escort of at least 2 members of my family and a pet or 2.

I don't know what it is about me wanting to go potty or try and take a shower that makes the family converge.

JoBug · Sep 17, 2005

A BATH, now that would be the ULTIMATE for me, but, I live with 3 MEN, ages, husband 42, son 23 and son 14....it seems they NEVER need the bathroom, until I am IN it...then it is holy terror...they NEED to go NOW...seems like I am at work, knowing another employer is awaiting the bathroom just as I sit to urinate..lol..maybe that would fit family time AND a bath into one..hehehe...nope, door is LOCKED NO ONE can enter..

keep them comming, I LOVE this..the wrestling match, GREAT story!!

HUGS JoBug

Gompers, BSN, RN · Sep 17, 2005

A BATH, now that would be the ULTIMATE for me, but, I live with 3 MEN, ages, husband 42, son 23 and son 14....it seems they NEVER need the bathroom, until I am IN it...then it is holy terror...they NEED to go NOW...seems like I am at work, knowing another employer is awaiting the bathroom just as I sit to urinate..lol..maybe that would fit family time AND a bath into one..hehehe...nope, door is LOCKED NO ONE can enter..
keep them comming, I LOVE this..the wrestling match, GREAT story!!
HUGS JoBug

Did anyone ever see the episode of Malcolm in the Middle where the mom is cleaning out a packed closet and finds that it's actually a bathroom? She tries to hide it from the kids so that she can finally have a nice bathroom!

grinnurse, RN · Sep 17, 2005

On the way to work, to get myself pumped for the day I will listen to music that has a great beat so by the time I get there I am ready to go. Now, after a hectic day, which most usually are I again will listen to winding down music, drive really slower or sometimes I turn everything off to where there is absolute silence. This does 2 thing for me, it lets me reflect on the day and gives me plenty of time to kick myself in the bottom if need be, and I am much calmer when I get to see my kiddos!!

My kiddos always cheer me up b/c I know I could be one of those pt in the hosp w/failing health. Nothing like my "screamin' memes" tackling me at the door to give me hugs and kisses and hearing about their day at school.

I would do the bath thing too. But like so many others have stated, it would be much more stressful than what it was worth. I do wonder if ever I will be able to use the bathroom or get undressed in privacy ever again!!

talaxandra · Sep 17, 2005

Baths are awesome - especially with bath balls, soft music and a great book (or trashy magazine!)

Exercise - long walks in the park, remembering there's a world outside the hospital; laps in the pool, focusing on technique and forgetting the world; low-impact aerobics, pushing my body; and stretch and yoga classes, undoing the kinks of too much stooping, twisting and lifting

Meditation, for grounding and unwinding

Entertaining friends

Cute_CNA, CNA · Sep 17, 2005

Talk to my husband, grab a bite to eat, watch tv, play with our cats, have a shower, and write in my journal. I do it every night :).

Addendum: Prayer is a biggie! How could I forget that? Oh yes, also I surf the internet, including this site .

P_RN, ADN, RN · Sep 17, 2005

Keep it up. This is one way to fight burnout.

I pray, maybe just one or two words.

I also watched my soap on fast forward. :)

Now that the kids are grown, I read......Star Trek Books...that I never got a chance to when they came out. I have over 100.

Wrestle with the big dog...the little one will jump in and beat us both.

The first time I came to allnurses I was totally sautee'd. This was a good place to see how good I actually had it.