Rest is Not an Option
Why do nurses (and other healthcare workers) think we have to work more than 40 hours per week? As if 3-12 hour shifts one week and potentially another 4 the next week isn’t enough. As if standing on our feet 36 – 48 hours each week is not enough. Where did we get that notion, and how many of us are trying to teach it to new staff AND getting rather pissed off when they say “thank you, but no. I don’t want to pick up another shift even if it is overtime pay.”
One of the reasons is because we sometimes see rest as an option, or as a weakness. As something we can live with or without. As if we want to work as much as we can “while we are young” and when we get old, we will sleep.
From personal experience, I can tell you that is NOT true. After a few weeks of my first manager job, I realized working 40 hours per week as a leader then picking up a 12-hour shift on the weekends was nothing short of insanity. Somehow, 20+ years later, that “epiphany” was lost.
After three brain surgeries from a brain tumor and then an infection in the surgical site, I thought I was all healed and could go back to my “normal” workaholic life. Three years later, I had a seizure while sitting at a stoplight. I believe God had a plan for me and a lesson for me to learn. The neurologist said I was a candidate for seizures due to my scar tissue. BUT I had seizures because of not enough sleep. You would think that would teach me a lesson but no. I was mad as a hornet when my new seizure medication made me sleepy in the middle of the day. That is, until a wise nutritionist gave me these wonderful words of wisdom. “Your body will not sleep any more than it needs.”
Eureka – sleep was not an option. In fact, it could have deadly consequences for me. I had to lie down in the middle of the day when I was sleepy. I had to go to bed at night even if it was 8pm and everyone else was still up.
So, what is the call to action for us as individuals and for us as leaders?
As a leader:
I must respect staff who choose to put a stop to working 40+ hours per week
I must NOT try to make staff feel guilty when they won’t pick up overtime.
I must model the behavior I expect of staff by paying attention to the number of hours I work, and
I must not showcase a “badge of honor” if I am the first one to get to work and the last one to leave.
As a leader:
As an individual I must have good sleep habits.
As an individual (and a leader) I must put practices into place to help me get 8 – 10 hours of sleep.
As an individual:
I must have good sleep habits
I must put practices into place to help me get 8 - 10 hours of sleep
Want to begin your journey to learning better habits to blend your personal and work life and be happy with both? Click here to have an introductory session with me where we can explore a plan for you that is sustainable.
