5 Tips for Staying Energized During Long Shifts

Has this ever been you? You’re six hours into your twelve hour shift, looking at the clock, thinking how many people in the 9-5 world are almost finishing up their day and you’re just at the halfway point. Sometimes shifts fly by and you’re not sure where the time went, but other times they can drag on and you’re wondering how you’ll find the energy.  

The mid-shift slump is real and something we’ve experienced working long shifts. Next time that slump hits, try one of these five different actions you can implement to turn your day (or night) around. Each shift is different and we have ever-evolving needs, so these five ideas may not all help you at once. Give yourself permission to try something new and face your slump with fervor.   

1. Take 2 Minutes to Check-In: This is a great tool to implement in a chaotic shift or when you’re giving a lot of yourself to others and you need a quick break to recharge. Screenshot this and save it on your phone or hang it up in your work locker!

Honor: One thing I feel _______________.

Honor where you are at and how you’re feeling right now. 

Allow: One way I can support myself today ____________________. Allow yourself to be seen as a human being and find one way you can better support yourself.

Receive: One thing I’m proud of myself for ___________________. Find one small thing you're proud of.

2. Improve your energy by reaching out to someone and giving them a kind word of encouragement. Send a loved one, a friend, or a coworker a text letting them know you’re thinking about them and/or something you appreciate about them. 

3. Start saving a list of things you want to do on your days off and work on this for a few minutes. Find a new restaurant or coffee shop in your town you want to try, shop at  a local farmer’s market and buy yourself some fresh flowers, research your next hike, or the next concert coming to town you could go see. Make a plan for some fun and let yourself daydream.

4. Voice your mid-shift slump to a coworker. Many times there are  others who feel  the same as you  do, but it takes speaking up to know this. It’s validating to hear from someone else that they’re struggling too, and then hearing from them us permission to voice our own concerns as well. Once you articulate this to someone, ask for support. Have they felt this way before? If so, what have they done? Can you both do a patient admission together or support each other in a task to bring some life and energy to your shift? Brainstorm different ways you can be a supportive resource for each other.

5. Coordinate a break with a coworker(s) - cover for each other for 10 minutes and plan out what you’re going to do. It could be stepping outside to feel sunshine on your face and breathe in some fresh air, taking a walking break to circulate some energy, or walking to your favorite  coffee place and fueling up. Don’t forget to include who you can leave your phone/pager with in your planning.  

Know that we all ebb and flow in our work, and some days may not always look and feel the best. It’s ok. Commit to taking some action during your next slump and see how you feel. Try a few of these ideas out and see what works best for you.