How to Decompress After a Tough Care Day
🌍 Every Carer Has “One of Those Days”
Whether you work in a care home, hospital, community setting, or support a loved one at home, some days hit harder than others.
Maybe a shift didn’t go to plan. Maybe emotions ran high. Maybe you just feel drained — physically, mentally, or emotionally.
That’s normal.
Caring is deeply human work, and it takes its toll.
But what matters most isn’t that you had a tough day — it’s how you recover from it.
💛 1️⃣ Use the Support That’s Already There
There are some amazing support options available for carers — but many go underused simply because we’re too busy (or too humble) to ask for help.
If you’re an employed carer, check whether your workplace offers an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). These often include:
Free counselling sessions (in person, by phone, or text)
Wellbeing advice
Support around personal or professional stress
These services exist for you — not just in crisis, but on those “I just need to talk” days too.
Even text counselling or a short call can make a tough day or week feel more manageable.
And if your organisation offers debriefing sessions after incidents, take part.
They’re not about blame — they’re about reflection and growth. For many people, debriefs can actually improve practice, boost confidence, and help you move forward.
💛 2️⃣ Reach Out Locally
Support doesn’t stop at work.
If things feel heavy, reach out to your local GP surgery or ask about social prescribers in your area. They can connect you with practical and emotional wellbeing services.
You could also access CBT therapy or local wellbeing groups — great for managing stress and building coping strategies.
And if you’re not a group person (neither are we!), that’s fine.
You can still find connection and understanding in Peopleoo Circles, where people share experiences without pressure or formality.
💛 3️⃣ Talk It Out, Don’t Bottle It Up
After a long or emotional day, it’s tempting to shut down. But expressing what happened — safely and positively — can help you decompress and process things more clearly.
That’s where Peopleoo Circles come in.
Carers from every walk of life — professionals, retired practitioners, unpaid carers, and volunteers — gather there to share, listen, and reflect.
It’s a space to express frustration, sadness, or even pride — without judgement. Because everyone gets it.
And don’t worry — you can do this anonymously, too, using the “Post your voice, not your name” feature on Peopleoo.
Don’t shout into the void; share it on Peopleoo.
Talking about what happened helps you unpick what to change next time, and sometimes, just knowing you’re not alone makes all the difference.
💛 4️⃣ Reflect, Don’t Replay
When something difficult happens in care, it’s easy to replay it over and over — analysing every detail, wondering if you could’ve done something differently.
Reflection is healthy; rumination isn’t.
Try to look at tough situations through a communication lens:
What was really being said or shown?
What emotion or need was behind the behaviour?
What worked — and what might you try next time?
Because every care interaction is built on communication, and all behaviour is communication.
Taking time to think about that — and discussing it in a Peopleoo Circle — can help you find new perspectives, new approaches, and new peace of mind.
💛 5️⃣ Learn from Shared Experience
The best thing about Peopleoo is the diversity of people you’ll meet there.
There are professionals working in care today, retired experts with years of wisdom, and — most importantly — caring people with lived experience.
Together, they offer insight from every angle: practical, emotional, and human.
Sometimes, just reading someone else’s story helps you reflect on your own. It reminds you that you’re doing your best in an unpredictable, emotional, and often undervalued world — and that’s something to be proud of.
💛 6️⃣ Find Your Way to Wind Down
After a tough day, try one of these mini decompression rituals:
Take a walk (even five minutes of fresh air helps).
Have a proper meal — not just toast at 10pm add in a bit of scrambled egg.
Write a few notes in your phone about what went well today.
Send an “Ooo” or Special Mention to a colleague who had the same kind of day — positivity shared is healing.
Or, if words are too much, simply sit in quiet with a cup of tea.
You don’t have to fix everything tonight. You just need to let go enough to rest.
🌱 You’re Human First
Care work is full of emotion, responsibility, and heart. That’s what makes it beautiful — but also what makes it heavy.
Decompressing doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’re wise enough to protect your energy so you can keep doing what you do best.
So use the support available, reach out locally, and share your voice — safely, anonymously, or proudly — on Peopleoo.
Because here, no one cares alone. 💛