Away From the Grind

Ahhh... I feel like a new woman. Two days off was just what I needed. Yes - I know. My prior level of exhaustion was my own fault. No one forced me to work all of those consecutive shifts. I've been a woman on a mission these past few weeks; a mission to work as much as possible. I have my reasons, of course. The extra money is nice. (And that's why I'm out here, right?) But, more than anything, I need to keep working so I don't have time to think about how much I miss my Mouse and my life back in Denver. But even a workaholic like me needs a couple of days to relax and unwind, which is exactly what I did.

Working so many nights in a row has a way of making me feel horrible about myself. Most of it can be attributed to my lack of sleep and jacked-up circadian rhythm. And I'm sure the 2am junk food intake doesn't help, either. But I also start to feel utterly antisocial. When I'm working, there is no time for me to hang out or catch up with my friends. I work and sleep, and that's about it, disappearing into the strange and twisted world of ICU-land. So, when I finally grant myself a couple of days off, I make sure to take full advantage, which is exactly what I did these past couple of days.

Knowing these were going to be the only two days of respite in my foreseeable future, I went for broke. I primped and pampered, treating myself to a haircut, facial, and massage. I went shopping. I drank wine with friends. I ate street tacos at the Huntington Beach Tuesday night market. I even managed to squeeze in a decently long run along the San Clemente beach. I couldn't have planned this mini-break better if I tried. These last two days provided a much-needed recharge for my mind, body, and soul.

Now that I've squeezed in all of my R&R, it's time to get back to the grind. I'm looking at another four grueling nights of dealing with the aftermath of car accidents, gang activity, and unchecked infections. Such is the life of an ICU nurse. But, this week, I'm ready for it. Bring on the sickies!