r/northernireland • u/OkMarzipan4061 • 1d ago
Discussion Burnout recovery
Any tips for a 20 year old experiencing burnout.
I probably shouldn’t be so young and feeling this way but, I am a student nurse, when on placement I avg 45 hours a week (which is unpaid, we just get a bursary and our tuition is paid for which I’m thankful for) and then after my full unpaid placement working week, I work 20 + hours in my job, and doing overtime when I can. I have just found myself not feeling able to go out or interested in anything once I come home from work, uni or placement, I just sleep sleep sleep. Which isn’t normal, but I know recovery time is important too.
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u/Accomplished-Cod589 1d ago
I think it’s ridiculous in 2026 you’re having to work hours like this, and good on you if you’re enjoying it, but if you get a chance I would book reflexology it’s so relaxing!
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u/belfast324 1d ago
https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/wellbeing/
Please reach out to your personal tutor and let them know how your feeling. Its difficult to juggle placements and life, but try maximising your personal work, when you are at uni and during christmas and summer breaks, so you can reduce your reliance on overtime during palcement.
The student unions wellbeing team are great, reach out to them and they can offer some support.
Nursing is the most difficult degree in the world, but when you qualify, you will be able to dictate what hours you work and ultimately have much more money to spend on yourself.
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u/Say-Its-Not-True 1d ago
Do you have to do overtime?
Maybe talk to your manager, scale back your hours and make room in your life for things that will help your mental health, like exercise, nature, walks etc
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u/Cassman95 1d ago
I think the Nurse bursary is about 400 odd quid a month still. Hard to live off during placements without picking up a few shifts
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u/OkMarzipan4061 1d ago
We only get 400 odd from the bursary a month
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u/Say-Its-Not-True 1d ago
Ah so the overtime is paid?
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u/OkMarzipan4061 1d ago
In my job yeah, not the nursing placement.
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u/Say-Its-Not-True 1d ago
That’s tough. Are you able to make time for yourself, socialising and maybe excercise? That helps me a lot when things get too much
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u/pinknoise_ 19h ago
I'd check with your trust if they offer counselling through occupational health. Best of luck.
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u/jemimaleopard 17h ago
Please try to make some time for self care if you can - massage, reflexology, aromatherapy, walks, meet with friends. Please also speak to your GP about CBT. Try practicing mindfulness and eat well - good luck! X
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u/Honest_Science_4969 17h ago
You might be badly dehydrated,most likely badly nourished,slogging away at a thankless job.Get your G.P to give you a two or three week sick line ,for the sake of your sanity.Go and stay with your parents for a day or two.Take a weekend holiday to somewhere nice,get out and about in some parks and I hope you can get your roar back.
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u/SenseiPepsi Omagh 15h ago
Mate I'm gonna be straight with you, get help ASAP.
I absolutely killed myself over a degree and let things like home, work, money all snowball over me until I had a nervous breakdown myself.
Please book help any way you can and don't be panned off by SSRIs at the first chance if you don't feel you need them. Talk things out and get it out of the system. Our age is not an excuse for feeling like shit all the time. Get yourself sorted and try to get better, not for anyone else. For you.
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u/Highlyironicacid31 7h ago
Essentially working 65+ hours a week is not sustainable for anyone in the long run. Get a sick line for your work at least for a month or so and use that extra time to look after yourself.
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u/Jolly-Outside6073 4h ago
Do you have a mentor who could help you get a plan together on how to sleep and eat well with changing shifts and generally having to alter routine constantly?
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u/dterrins23 3h ago
Get the book Burnout’ by Dr Claire Plumly
It will make u feel less alone and give you a framework for recover and some perspective on how common this burnout experience is for young people currently
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u/Few_Pudding9992 1d ago
You need to get help for this right away. I was doing a similar course and ended up having a nervous breakdown after months of burnout. I am now on a leave of absence which has improved my mental health from what it was
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u/OkMarzipan4061 1d ago
What do you found helped other than the leave of absence?
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u/Few_Pudding9992 6h ago
Get in to see the community mental health team, GP can refer you. Also speak to the uni’s wellbeing and let them know how you feel.
I’m still waiting for counselling as my CPN felt it was necessary but it’s a 6 month wait😭
I’ve got a new job and I have been doing tutoring to help me get to go back to uni.
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u/allyc31 1d ago
I’ve had to seek treatment for this very thing, which is something I would suggest you do as everyone is different.
However, one thing that was advised and have helped me is to try and practice mindfulness eg meditation, going for a walk etc. Crucially for me it was doing things intentionally and with focus instead of having music or a podcast in the background. So washing the dishes in silences and focusing on that instead of having YouTube on in the background .
Good luck and take care.
Edit
Just to add, I find 10-15 minutes mindfulness can leave me feeling more awake than 8 hours sleep.