You’re Not Lazy. You’re Exhausted. (And Here’s What to Do About It)
You’re not unmotivated. You’re not “just tired.” You’re not bad at self-care.
You’re burnt out.
Your body is screaming for a break, and you’ve been taught to ignore it.
You push through. You get it done. You keep showing up—even when you're beyond empty. Because that’s what nurses do, right?
But here’s the truth no one is saying loud enough:
You can’t heal in survival mode.
If you feel like you’re losing yourself, if you snap at the people you love, if you walk through your shifts feeling numb or wired—or both—it’s not because something is wrong with you.
It’s because your nervous system has been on high alert for way too long.
And no, you don’t need a vacation or a massage or a bubble bath to fix it. You need a way to come back to your body in the middle of the day. You need tools that actually work in the real world—your world.
Start Here: 3 Tiny Practices That Actually Help
These aren’t big, life-changing habits. They’re small wins that remind your body:
“You’re safe. You matter. You can slow down.”
1. The Pause Before You “Push Through”
You know that moment when you feel the urge to power through—even though you’re drained, shaky, or just need to pee?
Pause. One breath. Hand on heart or belly. Ask: “What do I need right now?”
Even if you can’t give it to yourself immediately, you just broke the cycle of ignoring your body.
2. Shift the Script
Instead of thinking, “I don’t have time for self-care,” try this:
“This 30 seconds is mine.”
One deep breath before you pick up the next chart
Feeling your feet during a bathroom break
Sitting down for just one full minute, on purpose
That’s nervous system care. That’s a reset. And it counts.
3. Track the Wins
At the end of your shift (or even on your commute home), name one thing you did for yourself.
Not for a patient. Not for a coworker.
For you.
This builds awareness. It builds pride. And it reminds your nervous system: you exist too.
You Don’t Need to Add—You Need to Notice
You’re already doing more than anyone sees.
This week, the invitation isn’t to do more self-care.
It’s to notice what your body is already asking for—and stop overriding it.
Awareness is the first step to regulation.
And one step is enough for today.
