Slow Down & Don't Wish Your Life Away

Welcome back to Heart & Hands: The Nurse’s Journey! I’m Ashley Wiltcher, a doctorally prepared nurse practitioner with years of experience in home health, hospice, case management, and primary care. While researching topics for this blog (ok - so I was scrolling on Facebook), I found an image that caught my attention:

Therefore, today’s blog is about Slowing Down and Not Wishing Your Life Away. If you work in healthcare, you know the drill: long shifts, endless to-do lists, and the continual need of our patients. In a world where time is measured in passing medications, finishing documentation, and counting down the hours until your next break - or let’s be honest, until your next day off. 

How many times have you said or heard your coworkers say something like this?

• “I just need to get through this day.”

• “I can’t wait until the weekend.”

• “Only five more years until retirement.” 

It’s a cycle we fall into without even realizing it. We are so busy looking forward to what’s next that we forget to live in the now. 

The Reality of Wishing Time Away

In healthcare, we see life at its most fragile state. We hold the hands of those taking their last breaths and celebrate with those given a second chance at life. We know better than most just how precious time is. 

And yet, WE rush through our own. 

We speed through shifts, through months, through entire seasons of life, waiting for better - less stress, more free time, fewer obligations. But what happens when we finally get there? Do we suddenly feel fulfilled, or do we just move the goalpost forward again? I know every time I meet a significant goal, I seem to move my goalpost instead of slowing down to enjoy life a little more. 

Why We Need to Slow Down

Rushing through life doesn’t make it go faster—it just makes us miss it. Here’s why we need to stop wishing time away:

1. Life is Happening Right Now

The exhausted you at the end of a 12-hour shift? That’s still your real life. The moments in between the chaos—the inside jokes with coworkers, the sunrise on your commute, the patient who smiles because of you—those count too.

2. There’s No Guarantee of ‘Later’

In healthcare, we see it every day: people who thought they had more time. More time to travel, to spend with family, to enjoy their hobbies. The hard truth? Later isn’t promised. If you’re always waiting for “someday,” you might miss your chance entirely.

3. Burnout Starts With Rushing

When we’re constantly focused on getting through things instead of being present in them, burnout sneaks in. We become emotionally detached, exhausted, and disconnected from the very work we once loved.

How to Start Living in the Moment

So, how do we stop rushing and start living?

✔ Shift Your Mindset – Instead of saying, “I just need to get through today,” try, “How can I find one good moment today?” Small perspective changes can make a big difference. Make it a point to write down at least one positive thing that happened to you during your day. 

✔ Find Joy in the Small Things – The warm cup of coffee before your shift. The grateful patient. The deep breath between tasks. These little things are life—don’t overlook them. And if your day has not had anything in it that brings you joy, stop by Starbucks or Dairy Queen on your way home (it’s always worked for me).

✔ Stop Waiting for Perfect Conditions – If you’re always waiting for a better time to enjoy your life, you’ll be waiting forever. Take that trip, start that hobby, or simply appreciate what you have right now.

✔ Take Care of Yourself – Slowing down isn’t about doing less—it’s about being present in what you do. That starts with taking care of yourself—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Closing Thoughts

Today, I challenge you to stop wishing time away and start truly living in the present. Healthcare is demanding. It’s exhausting. But it’s also beautiful. Don’t let yourself get so caught up in the rush that you forget to live.

Because at the end of the day, life isn’t meant to be counted down—it’s meant to be experienced.

So, take a deep breath! This moment? It matters.

Thank you for spending your time with me today. If this resonated with you, share it with a fellow nurse who could use some encouragement. And don’t forget to subscribe for more insights, stories, and inspiration.

Until next time—keep healing, keep listening, and keep making a difference.

XOXO,
Ashley