I was reading a nurse blog post today for nursing students. It talked about what to do during the downtime between semesters. While it gave really, really good suggestions for nursing students (internships, volunteering, study abroad, part-time clinical work, etc.) I offer another idea:

Take a break.

Tonight I was sitting in my den with my husband, “What do I write about? What do I blog about?” He’s giving me ideas (silly ones, yes… he was trying to help). None fit.

I even thought to myself: if I can’t think of what to blog about, should I be blogging?

This reminded me of the nursing student post.

Take a break.

As nurses we are constantly working. So much so I hear that these days it’s hard to find time off the unit, let alone get a lunch break. Even in my workshops and group courses when I say the words ‘Take a break’ nurses stare back at me with dropped jaws and bulging eyes.

Take a break? What IS that?

So since I could not come up with a topic to blog about I am taking my own advice and taking a break tonight. And maybe that is the blog topic in-and-of-itself.

Take a break.

Go ahead. I am giving you permission. And now I’m going to bed. Take a break.

What will you do to allow yourself a break? How can you use your downtime? What is it that you really need? When, where and how will you rest?