Chelsea’s Voice - Finding Balance: A Registered Nurse and Mom’s Journey to Mental Wellness
Meet Chelsea Tuffs.
A nurse and a mom, two of the most selfless and demanding roles a person can hold. But when the emotional intensity of one collides with the constant responsibility of the other, the weight can become too heavy to carry. This story is about finding the courage to slow down, to choose balance over burnout, and to recognize that sometimes caring for yourself is the most healing act of all.
Finding Balance: A Registered Nurse and Mom’s Journey to Mental Wellness
For years, I thrived in the fast-paced world of nursing … the long, demanding shifts, the adrenaline rush of critical moments, and the profound connections I made with my patients. Nursing gave me purpose and fulfillment, but as much as I loved my career, the reality of balancing that demanding schedule with motherhood can put a heavy toll on your mental health.
Nursing is a beautiful profession, full of compassion and healing, but it’s also incredibly tough. The emotional weight of caring for others, sometimes in life-or-death situations, can be overwhelming. Combined with erratic hours, night shifts, and physical exhaustion, it’s a recipe that often leaves nurses mentally and emotionally drained. I found myself struggling to keep up with the demands of both my career and my family, feeling stretched thin and at times, emotionally overwhelmed.
With our children being little, I desperately wanted to be there for every bedtime story, every school event, every hockey game, and every scraped knee that needed soothing. But the reality was that my rotating shifts and overtime kept me away from many of those precious moments. I began to realize that something had to change - not only for the sake of my family but for my own wellbeing.
Deciding to switch to a Monday-to-Friday nursing job wasn’t easy. I grappled with feelings of doubt and fear… would I lose the intensity and fulfillment that defined my nursing identity? Would I be letting go of a part of myself? But after much reflection, I understood that prioritizing my mental health and family was essential. The new schedule promised regular hours, weekends off, and the chance to create a more predictable and stable routine … something I desperately needed.
The impact of this change has been profound. I feel more present with my children, able to engage fully in their lives without the fog of exhaustion. I’m less overwhelmed and better equipped to manage stress, giving me space to nurture my own mental health. Mental wellness, I’ve learned, isn’t a one-time fix or a fleeting goal … it’s a continuous practice of setting boundaries, seeking support, and prioritizing self-care.
Switching to a structured work schedule allowed me to finally make space for therapy, mindfulness, and the simple joy of being a mom without the constant feeling of burnout. I’ve come to see that caring for myself is not selfish … it’s necessary. My mental health is the foundation that supports my ability to care for others, both at work and at home.
I love nursing deeply; it’s a core part of who I am. But now, I’m showing myself the same compassion I extend to my patients. Being a nurse and a mom doesn’t mean sacrificing one for the other. Instead, it means finding the balance that allows me to show up fully for both roles. It means honoring my own mental health as the vital foundation for living a fulfilled, meaningful life.
-Chelsea
