Saturday at Work

Got up at 4:20 to run 8 miles. Totally overdressed. There was a cold front in Milwaukee this week, so I think the 20°F this morning felt warm, and I completely forgot how to dress. Listened to Armchair Anonymous and Maddie Alm’s (a sports dietitian and pro runner) new podcast, Fueling Forward. The hour went by quickly, and before I knew it, it was time for work.

Today, I switched up my breakfast routine for the first time in months. Instead of my usual smoothie, I took oatmeal to work—basically the same ingredients, just in a warm, thicker format: oats, blueberries, protein powder, and walnuts.

I’ve been so tired at work today, and when I’m this exhausted, it’s hard to tell what I need—caffeine? Less caffeine? Am I hungry? Full? I just feel crappy and wish I could’ve slept an extra hour. That extra hour really makes a difference. Still, I don’t regret going for my run.

During my lunch break, I snuck away for 20 minutes to complete the skills portion for my ACLS renewal. Lowkey, doing compressions on a mannequin felt like a workout. Afterward, I walked over to Whole Foods, made a loop around the store, and grabbed all the samples.

At work, I had two ICU patients who were mostly stable. Both were on drips, but I didn’t have to titrate much—they were essentially parked at the perfect dose. The win of the day was getting them both up to the chair in the afternoon. If you’re a nurse, you know the struggle, and how it’s a humble brag to document “got patient up to chair for meals” in your note. Moving patients with a mess of IVs, monitor cables, and weakness is a hassle. But movement really makes a difference, so it’s worth it—even if it’s not anyone’s favorite task.

Now, I’m counting down the minutes until I’m in bed—less than two hours to go! So excited for a slow Sunday morning, my favorite kind of morning.