Mental health is important too.

January 5 & 6, 2011 - The yin and yang of employment.

First, let me apologize for missing yesterday.  The posting form wasn't working and I was too exhausted to wait for it to resolve itself.  In retrospect, I could have typed up the post in a word document and then posted it tonight, which is the plan going forward.

Having said that... Let me tell you about my last two days!!!  As you may have read on my profile, I work in Healthcare.  That's all I'm prepared to say at this time, but as with most jobs in healthcare, I'm on my feet ALL shift.  I work 12hr shifts, 0700-1900, which turns into 0630-1930 when all is said and done.  I get one half-hour break, which somehow, through some strange loophole I'm sure, doesn't violate any kind of labor laws.  Strange, but that's how it's been for over 6 years.  Most days are a big mix of nice pts, annoying pts, really sick pts, and pts who aren't really sick at all.  I enjoy most aspects of my job and keep in the forefront of my mind that I HAVE a job!  It doesn't pay very well and the benefits are pretty good, but the personal satisfaction is great.

Wednesday, though, was an especially busy and hectic day, rife with very sick pts, and thrice as many pts who could have been easily treated over-the-counter.  Not to mention my boss breathing down my neck for 10 out of 12 hours!  After work it was all I could do to get dinner before crashing (btw, dinner was a homemade quesadilla with mozz cheese, spinach, and chicken in a whole wheat tortilla.  Mmmm.).  The day was mentally and physically exhausting.  Sadly, I did not make it to the gym.  I know it's an excuse, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.  I felt like I had been beaten already, I didn't need it last night too.  Double sadly, I crawled into bed exhausted, and couldn't fall asleep!!!!  Grrr, I was so angry!  What an incredibly lousy day!  :(

So this morning, I woke up (before my alarm!) after 4ish hours of sleep, realized that my hair was a mess (yes, it had gotten that long) and decided that the extra 10 minutes of sleep weren't worth it.  So I got up, cut my hair (which made me feel better), showered, and headed off to do it again.  Luckily today was actually quite nice.  I don't feel beaten and I had a few patients that I really connected with.  A completely opposite day.  The management that was there is always kind and fair and doesn't micro-manage.  The patients were mostly sick or injured and did actually need my help, and as I said, a few needed some special attention that I was in a position to provide.  I always feel better when I'm able to help people who actually need help.  This is personal satisfaction that I was talking about.  And to end the night, I went to dinner with a friend and had good conversation over a good meal (I tried to be healthy!) and came home to find a Christmas present in my mailbox from my cousin!  A+ day!

So.  What have we learned?  Yes, there will be bad days.  There will always be bad days.  And there will be good days.  There will always be good days.  Remember that plants need sun AND rain to grow.  Both too much and not enough of either can be harmful.  Life is all about balance.  We need the good in our lives, everyone knows that.  But we also need those bad days.  It's how we grow, how we recognize and come to appreciate the good days.

I didn't make it to the gym tonight, but rest assured that I'll be hitting it hard tomorrow!  It's all about balance!  ;)

:-D