Two Days Off



Nurses are notorious for not recharging their batteries.
I am presently trying to bring in a slightly more structured way of debriefing and discussing situations that challenge them in clinical every day work
It's bread and butter within Samaritain work
But still not quite normal practice in nursing.

Younger nurses still, I think, work hard and play hard. 
Lots of late nights, alcohol and buckets of fun
It has always been so

Today I find it's getting the most out of days off.
And days off mean , wherever possible two days off together!
This week I have three days off together.
Yesterday was a bust after night shifts. It was a day of scrubbing the kitchen floor free of bulldog separation urine, dog walks, shopping and cottage cleaning
The next couple of days are earmarked for some downtime
Today it's Little Women, A lunch date, dog walks and a hospital visit
Tomorrow it's Pottery Class, choir and badminton with Gorgeous Dave

Many of us are not very good at giving ourselves permission to relax.
We use words as should and Need too many times 

The next couple of days, all I am allowing myself to say 
" I'd like to..."

44 comments:

  1. Good idea. Sometimes it is easy to stay in bed until midday and mope around the rest of the day off. I have a week off next week after my weekend of nights, and plan to do something fun every day.

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  2. About time and I am glad to hear it x

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    1. P.S. Just be careful how you "throw" the pots. It is not a Greek Restaurant! xx

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  3. Good for you. I keep talking about taking classes but never get around to it. The little bit of travel always seems to screw up plans. Pottery class sounds like fun. Can’t wait to see what you produce.

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  4. Self care, dearheart, self care. It's fundamental.

    XOXO

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  5. add "I'd like to have a scotch egg" in there somewhere.

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  6. Enjoy your "weekend" have fun, get distracted, rest.

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  7. You've got some wonderful things planned -- have fun!

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  8. Thank goodness for no more penises.

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    1. Wait and see what he produces in the Pottery class!

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    2. mave your first quote surprised me !!!!

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    3. I'm all talk darling x

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  9. Good for you. You won't be in a fit state to look after other people if you don't look after yourself first. x

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  10. Enjoy your days off John x

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  11. I remember living for those three day weekends. I rested one and did fun things on the other two. Sometimes, when needed, it was the other way around.

    Enjoy and let us know what you think of Little Women. I have heard nothing but great reviews and hope to see it soon.

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    1. im now going Friday
      but of them all so far I did love the 1990s winnona ryder one the best ( so far)

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  12. As you know, my wife is a nurse. I find I have to recharge her batteries twice a week if she is going to function properly. Fortunately, as a practice nurse, her hours of work are pretty regular with no night shifts. Also she is now very much part time - working three days a week in order to give me some tranquillity and some beer money.

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    1. thank you for that YP
      its nice to have people that understand the pressures

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  13. John i understand the beauty of two days off together. Many who work 9-5 Mon - Fri just don't understand how difficult it can be to not have two days off together.. You can do it for awhile but then it all catches up to you.. Like you i have three days off together this week starting today. With just the knowledge of 3 days off i can already feel the stress falling off me.. I've been back in the workforce for a year and a half now and i still miss my home.. I like being home. Some people don't . Some people say they would climb the walls if they had to stay home all day. But i've never been like that. Home is my sanctuary.. its where i'm most comfortable. Well i've just gone on and on.. sorry about that. I think theres a little bit of resentment there for being in the situation that i had to go back to work.. But hey i was able to stay home for 10 years! What a beautiful opportunity for me .. and nothing stays the same or last forever..Have a wonderful 3 days off John. Hugs! deb

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    1. its great when someone reading this rubbish actually understands what I have written

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  14. Enjoy your days off. The Little Women film is lovely and relaxing, it's not exactly the same as the book ... as one of the ladies in the row behind me kept exclaiming over and over ... but a good film nevertheless.

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    1. I am now going to see it on Friday if its still on

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  15. Some good advice here John.

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  16. You are obviously a high energy person. Even your days off are busy! Have fun!

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    1. my husband always thought I was a bit lazy

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  17. I'm not saying anything, you're not going to listen anyway! :D

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  18. Barbara Anne4:13 pm

    Sensible thoughts and excellent plans for your blissful 3 days off. Good to have the housework finished first so you return to a clean cottage after your various activities. Enjoy!!

    Hugs :)

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  19. Those are some busy days off! Give yourself time to rest, too!

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  20. Everything's been done now John,so it's fun free time-you deserve it x

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  21. Ooh pottery class! I hope you show us what you make ...

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  22. "I'd like to...stay home and have a nap with the bulldogs."

    [pottery, badminton and choir are too much for one day! And you need to stay home and precook healthy foods, relax and putter and bake, etc..]

    Can you retrain the menagerie to use potty pads or a litter box?

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    1. my only other day off is Friday this week the others I am all working 12 hours!

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  23. Three days off is best. A day for chores, a day to play, and a day to rest. Too bad the majority of people never get that.

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    1. indeed...….but it did all go slightly tits up today

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  24. Wise advice. And sometimes we need a down day to do nothing more than read, nap and relax.

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  25. Knowing we need time to relax isn't always the same as taking the time to relax. I found myself frittering away a day off recently and chastising myself for doing so. I only realized later that maybe it was just what I needed.

    There's your self-awareness again - a great quality to have.

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    1. my friend sitges John is teaching me to be kinder to myself

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  26. Good words to know !
    parsnip

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  27. I've just heard someone on the radio saying that most nurses smoke. Is this true?

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