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3 tips for moms to go from exhausted to energized
In my coaching practice, I work with a lot of caregivers. This includes people in helping professions, like nurses, counselors, teachers, and public servants. It also includes folks who care for others at home, whether it's their kids, their parents, or other relatives who need support. And some people fill all of these roles. Many of these people are mothers. The most common thing I hear from these folks is that they are exhausted. They miss their energy.
Does this sound familiar? You love and value your role as a caregiver. You want to enjoy the time you have together and be fully present. You want to meet their needs. And somewhere along the way, you want to reconnect with your body, your adventurous dreams, and your independent self.
What shifts can moms and other caregivers make to go from exhausted to energized?
How to stay energized for a 12-hour shift
Lots of nurses and other healthcare folks work a tough 12-hour schedule. Even if you like the freedom of fewer days on, the demands of 12-hour shifts are a lot to take on consistently. These long, stressful shifts are draining even on good days. After the second or third day (or night, yikes), you likely feel a little bit like a zombie. Are you making your best decisions then? Being your best self? You don't have to answer that, but when you have a quiet moment, think about it, and be honest.
healing, not hacks
In my clinical practice, I get a lot of questions about trendy health topics making the rounds on tiktok and instagram. Some of these so-called hacks are fine ideas for the right person at the right time. But are they the right thing for you, today?
Why can’t I sleep?
Have you ever:
taken an accidental nap? (what time is it? AT NIGHT??)
gone to bed exhausted, but lay awake for an eternity, thinking about everything and nothing all at once?
gotten 8 hours of sleep but still felt so tired in the morning that you almost (or actually) left the house wearing two different shoes?
decided against a workout because you were just too tired to think about finding a clean sports bra?
raided your sugar stash to make it through an afternoon meeting?
f, all of the above?
How to get energized— and stay energized
Are you exhausted from anxiety? Exhausted when waking up? Exhausted from work? Exhausted from working out? Exhausted constantly for no reason at all? You're not alone. I hear this refrain from people every day. We. Are. Tired. Nurses are tired. Teachers are tired. And of course we are: we work hard, we care for others, we try to do everything and please everyone, and we're expected to show up and be productive with a smile no matter what's going on in our lives and in the world. It can be so hard to keep this in perspective and respond with kindness to ourselves. Looking for answers, lots of folks are willing to try anything they can find.
Tips for the everyday athlete
The more you move, the more you may start to be aware of what your body can do. You can and should treat your body like an athlete would, even if your “sport” is biking to work, zumba, taking yoga classes, or hitting up Orange Theory once a week. Physiotherapist and all-around wizard Kelly Starrett likes to say that humans should be able to perform basic maintenance on themselves. That’s the task of the everyday athlete: take care of the instrument you use to go through your daily life (that’s your body). A little bit of attention goes a long way. It’s easy to ignore this advice until you’re injured, fatigued, or fighting illness, but surprise! It’s also easy to do it. It just takes awareness and intention. What does that look like? I’ll go through some basic good practices for everyday athletes below.