Lost my spark...

RE: Lost my spark...

enigmaticat-uk — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 18:09:51 GMT

I found myself in a similar position a few years ago - I had lost all my spark for nursing and also life in general. I was working 40+ hours per week and commuting 2+ hours per day and I was physically and emotionally exhausted all the time. I had no energy for anything - I didn't want to go out in my free time and I dreaded going to work. My solution was to reduce my hours by a day (thankfully I had understanding bosses who appreciated that was better than me burning out and getting signed off sick) so I had one day per week that I decided to do specific things for myself like spend a few hours gardening, going for a walk, or doing craft projects. That really helped me a lot at the time. I did eventually leave that job and now have a much less stressful one now and still do the equivalent of 4/5th of full time. I'm still not 100% on the spark front but I do feel much better than I did, but can't really afford to work less hours - but shifting the work/life balance can really help.

RE: Lost my spark...

SmegSlayer — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 16:06:37 GMT

Talk to your cats- sometimes just being able to vent makes a big difference- I talked to my cat and dog all the time. They will probably doze off but keep stroking them to calm yourself and just pour out everything even if you end up crying.

Getting a change of scenery with a small walk is a great idea. maybe try an exercise class in something completely random- i did trampolining and it was great to bounce around with people not connected with work in any way and behave a little bit like a child for a few hours a week.

RE: Lost my spark...

Sophie Millar — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 10:38:36 GMT

Raceila LOL that made me laugh hahaha

RE: Lost my spark...

Rachel Woodcock — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 23:43:33 GMT

Jogging helps me to unwind after a stressful day or taking my dogs for a long walk. I often find myself offloading my worries to them whilst we are walking around, people must think I'm a nutter if they hear me lol

RE: Lost my spark...

Sal the 1st — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 19:26:54 GMT

RE: Lost my spark...

VetNurse Anon a/c — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 14:29:19 GMT

Thank you everyone for advice.

[quote user="Sal the 1st"]

Have you seen your GP recently it might be that a change of meds can help you feel a bit better?

Talk to somebody - don't bottle it up. Offer still stands if you want to PM me

[/quote]

Thanks Sal. might book doc appt to have a chat about things and medication etc. Maybe there is something else causing me to be so tired and fatigued after my shifts....

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]But maybe there is a way to restructure your shifts to give you more usable time outside work (ie time to do something other than slump on the sofa, knackered?)[/quote]

Not sure they can be changed, we all do a range of shifts with 4.30pm, 5pm, 5.30pm, or 7.30pm finish. Its all evenly split so we do same amount over a 3-4 week period.

I have recently moved house and across the road i have lovely views, so i can take up Sal's thing of walking and taking in the sunset etc and chill out a bit that way.

RE: Lost my spark...

Arlo Guthrie — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 09:14:13 GMT

[quote user="VetNurse Anon a/c"]I don't really get any time. I literally finish my shift, go home, shower, eat dinner, catch up on tv and sleep.[/quote]

[quote user="VetNurse Anon a/c"]I dont have many friends outside of work anymore.[/quote]

Isn't this the heart of the problem? Sounds to me like your work/life balance is, er, not very balanced. You need to have the time outside work to be able to foster your friendships etc. But that's easy to say. Presumably you need to work the hours you do in order to pay the bills. But maybe there is a way to restructure your shifts to give you more usable time outside work (ie time to do something other than slump on the sofa, knackered?)

RE: Lost my spark...

Sal the 1st — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 04:30:07 GMT

[quote user="VetNurse Anon a/c"]

I don't really get any time. I literally finish my shift, go home, shower, eat dinner, catch up on tv and sleep. Any free time i do have i'm always tired and feeling worn down and don'y have energy to do much other than go shopping quickly or tidy the flat and cuddle my cats. I dont have many friends outside of work anymore. Most of the school friends i had left have started ignoring me.

[/quote]

I have been down this road myself a number of times and I know how low it makes me feel,and for me when I am on a downer the less I feel that I want to interact with people and will take myself out of circulation. There will be some people who think I am ignoring them and they will drift away but people who have known me a long time have pretty much sussed out that sometimes I just need my own company for a while.

Any chance of just a 10 or 20 min walk in the fresh air during the day - might not be what you feel like doing at first but give it a go and see if you can build something new into the daily routine, sometimes little changes can make a big difference, it doesn't have to mean running a marathon or swimming the Channel just a brisk short walk once a day (exercise bumps up your dopamine ). Have you seen your GP recently it might be that a change of meds can help you feel a bit better?

Talk to somebody - don't bottle it up. Offer still stands if you want to PM me

here is a link to Vetlife too http://www.vetlife.org.uk/

take care

RE: Lost my spark...

VetNurse Anon a/c — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 15:49:33 GMT

[quote user="raceila"]how about doing a course? Maybe be good to give yourself something to focus on and hopefully get stuck into something. Or what about setting up nurse clinics in your practice and you specialise in them?[/quote]

Hey, i completed a diabetic advisor course last year and starting diabetic clinics alongside vets advice and guidance.

[quote user="Sal the 1st"]For me it helps to develop an interest which is totally outside of vet nursing that takes up every spare bit of time and interest I have when I am not at work - it sort of takes the intensity out of the job if that makes sense and gives me a chance to focus on something outside of everyday routine and drama and exercise another bit of my brain for a change. I'm not quite sure how it works but somehow it helps me to see things with fresh eyes and decide if what I am seeing I can work with or if I need to go and work somewhere else.[/quote]

I am on anti-depressants too and have been for just over 4 years now. I get shitty days and get stressed way too easily. My colleagues know when im stressed as i develop a 'potty' mouth! Lol... I could have filled up many swear jars by now!

[quote user="Mark Hedberg"]Also, when's the last time you had some really serious time off? [/quote]

Had week off last month but spent most of it packing as was moving house at the end of the week. (I had booked the week off long before i found out landlord was kicking us out.)

RE: Lost my spark...

Mark Hedberg — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 10:25:13 GMT

Also, when's the last time you had some really serious time off?

RE: Lost my spark...

Sal the 1st — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 00:28:47 GMT

I go through this periodically ( predictably every 6/7 yrs), in fact I am probably just about 'spark out' again at the moment. For me it helps to develop an interest which is totally outside of vet nursing that takes up every spare bit of time and interest I have when I am not at work - it sort of takes the intensity out of the job if that makes sense and gives me a chance to focus on something outside of everyday routine and drama and exercise another bit of my brain for a change. I'm not quite sure how it works but somehow it helps me to see things with fresh eyes and decide if what I am seeing I can work with or if I need to go and work somewhere else.

It doesn't always mean that I have lost interest in the job I am doing (tho I have to admit it has its moments) sometimes its that I have just lost direction or I am not really sure where I want to be or that the job is not giving me what I want anymore. Give me a shout if you want to talk - if nothing else we can compare notes

RE: Lost my spark...

Rachel Woodcock — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 23:39:30 GMT

how about doing a course? Maybe be good to give yourself something to focus on and hopefully get stuck into something. Or what about setting up nurse clinics in your practice and you specialise in them? I felt like you are feeling but my situation was different in that I wasn't happy at work so I ended moving practice and it's changed my whole outlook on life. Yeah I still get days when I think there must be an easier way to earn a living but I can't imagine doing anything else

hope you feel happier soon x