I know you’re a hardworking nurse dedicated to caring for your patients to the best of your ability.

I also know you work long hours with barely any rest, yet you never complain (unless it’s 2 AM and good ole Bob won’t stop hitting that damn call light — don’t worry, I’m right there with ya).

I know you have a strong sense of duty and believe that your job is to help those in need — and it is.

But I’m sure those long shifts and lack of real rest have slowly but surely taken their toll on your health. You probably feel like you couldn’t be any more exhausted and feel like your joy and spark for your job are quickly fading (or maybe the light is already out).

There comes a point when you have to decide what’s most important — your health and sanity or your job. This moment is your opportunity to step back and look at the big picture.

If you want to continue caring for your patients to the best of your ability, you must start taking care of yourself first.

That’s not selfish. That’s necessary.

Learn how to prioritize your energy, investing it in the things that matter most and cutting out the things that don’t.

Pay more attention to your diet, ensuring you get all the necessary vitamins and minerals. Start to exercise regularly or move your body in a way that feels good to you. Attempt to get enough sleep every night. Take regular breaks from work and set energy boundaries for those around you.

Your energy levels and zest for life may not return overnight (yes, I said “zest” — don’t come for me and my thesaurus), and the return on your energy investment honestly may take a while to fully mature before you start to see the results you want in your life, but continue to make small investments now to reap the rewards later. You’ll be amazed at the difference over time—and trust me, you’ll thank me later.

nurse entrepreneur dancing under disco ball

How to Invest Your Energy So You’re Never Tired Again

It may sound so silly, but for the sake of this analogy, I want you to think of your energy as a type of currency — and if there’s anything we know about money, investing is the best way to build wealth (just ask the goddess we all know and love, Dr. Google herself).

Investing your energy is essential for building resilience and never feeling tired again. Your energy investment will continue to compound on itself and create a plentiful supply of energy for you to draw from. It allows you to focus on the essentials, do what matters most to you, and teaches you to take care of yourself first.

By identifying your energy sources, reframing your mindset around productivity, and determining actionable steps to invest your energy, you will prioritize your tasks, lower your stress, and never feel tired again—what more could you ask for, amiright?

Here’s a little back story for ya…

I recently watched this Youtube video by Ali Abdaal (a doctor turned productivity guru) where he talks about how to invest your energy, and he makes some interesting points about looking at your to-do list as areas where you can invest energy rather than just being endless energy-draining tasks you dread.

Abdaal quotes Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit, “Small wins fuel transformative changes by leveraging tiny advantages into patterns that convince people that bigger achievements are within reach.“

Productivity is a habit, but it doesn’t have to mean you are constantly hustling and never resting. Instead of considering productivity an endless to-do list, reframe it as an energy investment.

Taking the time to evaluate your energy levels and assess what needs completing can help you to stay productive without feeling overwhelmed.

Abdaal suggests categorizing your projects or to-dos into three primary lists: a wish list, an active list, and a passive list.

Your wish list is the list of projects you would like to work on or future projects you’re looking forward to starting. It’s a sneak peek of all the projects or tasks you’re willing to spend your energy on in the future.

Your active list is the list of projects you are currently working on, but it’s important to mention here that this list requires a limit. Your active list, or the number of projects you actively give your energy to, should be set at three to five projects simultaneously. Setting a limit to your active list allows you to bring your full attention to each project and prevents you from overworking yourself or stretching yourself too thin.

Lastly, establish your passive list of projects. These projects require less energy and will complete themselves with little or no work by you. They aren’t significant sources of energy drainers, but still good to acknowledge they’re on your list.

Once you have completed a project, give yourself the satisfaction of ticking it off your list. Those completed tasks or projects might be small, but the small wins will fuel your energy to accomplish even more, allowing you to build more energy-efficient habits and prevent burnout.

The biggest takeaway lesson here?

Limit the number of ongoing projects you have at any given time, and give yourself credit for the projects you complete.

Monitoring your energy level regarding your projects and to-dos forces you to recognize how you feel, helping you reinvest that energy into things you truly enjoy and that will bring you energy instead of draining it.

So what exactly do you need to do to invest your energy so you’re never tired again?

Let’s get into it!

Actionable Steps to Never Feeling Tired Again

1. IDENTIFY YOUR ENERGY DRAINERS

So first things first, you have to figure out what is draining your energy in the first place. Identifying your energy-draining sources is essential to learning how to navigate your energy investments and teach you what areas of your life you want to invest in. By identifying these sources and limiting the time you spend on them, you can more effectively invest your energy in the things that matter most to you.

Many different sources can reduce your energy levels, and some may be obvious, such as stress, poor nutrition, lack of sleep, and overworking. But there are also more nuanced energy-draining sources, such as

Feeling overwhelmed by too many tasks
Social media and technology
Feeling like you need to be perfect
Feeling like you need to do it all yourself
Working on projects that don’t align with your values
Feeling like you have to please everyone
Overcommitting to too many things
Repetitive tasks that don’t bring you joy

Understandably you might not be able to immediately remove some energy-draining sources from your life, especially something like your job if you rely on that income to live and pay the bills — welcome to adulthood — but knowledge is power, and with this knowledge, you can make more informed decisions and slowly teach yourself how to create the life you wish to live.

2. PRIORITIZE YOUR ENERGY INVESTMENTS

Using Abdaal’s advice, reframing your mindset around productivity involves viewing projects, tasks, and to-dos as energy investments rather than energy drainers.

You’ll separate your project list, tasks, and to-dos into three primary categories: a wish list, an active list, and a passive list. Then by monitoring your energy investments, you can pay attention to how you feel and assess what needs completing, helping you to stay productive without feeling overwhelmed and invest in the things that matter most to you.

Evaluate your energy investments by asking questions:

Are you doing too much?
Are you taking on too many commitments?
Are you saying yes to things you don’t really want to do?
Are you inadvertently burning yourself out?
Are you making yourself overwhelmed?
Are you overly focused on the end result and not enjoying the process?
Are you diving into the next project without appreciating what you’ve already accomplished?
Are you taking enough time for yourself?
Are you spending too much time on tasks that don’t bring you joy?
Are you putting too much pressure on yourself to be perfect?

3. MANAGE STRESS

Nurses are intimately acquainted with stress — I know you know this firsthand. Creating a self-care routine and finding relaxing and rejuvenating activities are essential for managing stress. Some ideas for self-care practices include meditation, yoga, taking a walk outside, or even just taking a few moments to be still and relax — I even have a whole-ass blog post about 25 Simple Self-care Ideas for Nurses.

And maybe most importantly, learn to recognize when you are feeling overwhelmed and then actually take steps to address it. Ask yourself if you are taking on too much or putting too much pressure on yourself. If so, step back and identify what tasks can be removed from your plate to reduce your stress. Additionally, if you feel like you can’t do it all, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Delegating tasks or projects to someone else can help to reduce your stress and prevent burnout.

By implementing healthy self-care practices and taking the time to recognize when you are feeling overwhelmed, you can learn to manage stress and avoid feeling overwhelmed.

4. OPTIMIZE YOUR DIET

For those nurses that practically transfuse caffeine into your veins, I’m looking at you for this one — but please don’t come at me; I’m just saying you can do better. 😜

A balanced diet of nutritious food provides the energy needed to stay alert and energized throughout the day. A balanced diet should include a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. And, of course, it’s important to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day.

(This lowkey feels like a “That Girl” moment, should “That Nurse” be a thing too?)

To help ensure you get the proper nutrients and hydration, focus on eating a variety of whole foods, limiting processed foods, and avoiding sugary snacks and excessive caffeine. Eating nutrient-dense foods, such as nuts, seeds, and dark leafy greens, can help to give you an energy boost and keep your energy levels steady throughout the day.

Also, supplementing your diet with vitamins and minerals can help to improve your energy levels.

5. MOVE YOUR BODY

Consistently moving your body and exercising is integral to investing your energy in the right places. Regular exercise can help to improve your energy levels, reduce stress, and improve your overall health. Just find something that works for you and add it to your daily routine.

Don’t overcomplicate it.

When creating an exercise routine, find something you enjoy that is sustainable for you. You can add anything from a simple walk around the block to a full-blown high-intensity interval training (HIIT) session. The important thing is to find something that works for you and that you can stick to, even when you feel low on energy.

You can also try having a list of movement practices to do based on your energy level.

Is it a high-energy day? Maybe go for a run or try a kickboxing class.

Is it a low-energy day? Maybe try gentle yoga or a walk around the block for fresh air.

Also, you don’t have to set aside huge chunks of time to exercise. Even just 10 minutes of exercise can positively affect your energy levels. If you’re short on time, try breaking up your activity into smaller chunks throughout the day instead of trying to block out time in your already limited schedule.

6. GET ADEQUATE SLEEP

It may be super obvious, but getting adequate sleep is essential for maintaining energy levels and avoiding exhaustion. Unfortunately, as you may already know, actually getting enough sleep every night is sometimes easier said than done.

To ensure you get enough rest, try the following:

Creating a consistent sleep schedule and sticking to it
Going to sleep and waking up around the same time every day, even on weekends
Limiting your exposure to screens at least an hour before bedtime
Creating a relaxing pre-bedtime routine, such as reading a book or taking a bath
Limiting your caffeine intake
Avoiding heavy meals, alcohol, and nicotine before bedtime
Decreasing stress and anxiety

(Don’t mind me over here, just ignoring my own advice, and continuing on with my self-proclaimed “sleep-deprived nurse” persona forever and always.)

7. BREAKS & BOUNDARIES

So since we’re talking nurse-to-nurse here, I just want to say I understand how challenging it can be to take breaks and set boundaries while working as a nurse. It’s hard to prioritize your needs when you’re continuously being taken advantage of at work.

But please remember, you have the right to demand change and make your well-being a priority once and for all.

As a nurse, taking regular breaks and setting boundaries is essential to avoid burnout. Taking breaks gives your brain a chance to reset and recharge, reducing stress and fatigue. Setting boundaries lets you prioritize your energy and decide which tasks and projects are worth investing in.

At the end of the day, investing your energy in the right places can help you build a fulfilling and rewarding life — yes, one that you absolutely love to live. So, don’t forget to take care of yourself and prioritize your well-being. You deserve to feel happy, healthy, and fulfilled in your nursing career.

Feeling like you can’t possibly do it all?

The most important lessons to learn when investing your energy are to identify your energy-draining sources, limit the number of ongoing projects you have at any given time, learn to manage your stress, and take your health seriously.

Monitoring your energy level regarding your projects and your to-dos forces you to recognize how you feel and helps you to make sure you are investing your energy efficiently to prevent burnout. Ask yourself if you are doing too much, inadvertently burning yourself out, or getting yourself overwhelmed.

Take the time to recognize what activities bring you joy and energize you. Instead of expending your energy on activities that drain your energy and leave you feeling depleted, invest your time and effort in those activities that bring you joy and fill you with energy. Not only will this make you feel better in the short term, but it can also lead to long-term benefits, such as improved mental health, increased productivity, and improved whole-person well-being.

Your time and energy are finite, and you have to embrace the fact that you can’t do it all. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

How to Invest Your Energy So You’re Never Tired Again

How to Invest Your Energy So You’re Never Tired Again

Here’s a little back story for ya…

Actionable Steps to Never Feeling Tired Again

1. IDENTIFY YOUR ENERGY DRAINERS

2. PRIORITIZE YOUR ENERGY INVESTMENTS

3. MANAGE STRESS

4. OPTIMIZE YOUR DIET

5. MOVE YOUR BODY

6. GET ADEQUATE SLEEP

7. BREAKS & BOUNDARIES

Feeling like you can’t possibly do it all?

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