Energy booster ideas for hard working nurse

[Thistle72]

Hi,
I’m hoping you lovely lot can help me.
I’m a ward sister and have recently been moved to a different ward due to winter pressures which is harder work physically and there is limited staff which is added pressure.
I am finding I’m really tired by the time I finish my 12 hour shift. I walk my dog good distances when I’m off so feel I do get exercise, my diet is ok , I don’t eat much processed food although do have a sweet tooth.
Just hoping you might have any hints and tips that might put a spring back in my step!!!! Oh I’m 45.
TIA

How's your length and quality of sleep every night? And how do you spend most of your time when you're not at work? Do you get a proper chance to switch off from work and other pressures (and away from too many screens)? 12 hour shifts really are just exhausting, especially in the middle of winter, so I would have thought that how you spend your time outside work is the most crucial thing.

Sounds like you could probably improve your diet a bit too. Do you get your 5 a day etc? I always have more energy when I eat things like spicy food with lots of fresh produce and lean meat or fish rather than a heavy, starchy diet with lots of sugar (either from sweet food or from lots of pasta dishes etc).

Bless you, you must be bl**dy exhausted working those shifts. I can really recommend cutting out/radically down on sugar - I did this a few months ago and the boost in energy and improvement in sleep is unbelievable along with clearer skin and I lost a fair bit of my ample arse. I'd suggest a good multivitamin - Vitamin D as you're not getting sunlight and I also take a "Busy B" vitamin B. I work 9 - 10 hours and the sugar thing has probably had the most impact in balancing/sustaining my energy levels.

Do you have heavy periods? If so take an iron supplement - it made all the difference to my exhaustion and I'm your age and work full time.

Also a vitamin d supplement (drops I buy on Amazon) is great all winter.

I would second a good multi vitamin with iron.. I take this and an iron supplement on top as I get heavy periods and I run a cleaning business so the work is physical...I also take an immune booster with vitamin c and zinc... lots of sleep and water will help too... I feel your pain

So difficult to achieve but do you manage to stay well hydrated?

Massive respect to you.

Police officer here- do 12 hour shifts too (but fortunately part time at the minute so not as many days) so I really know how burnt out you feel.

As pp says stay hydrated. I drink 3 litres of water a day. Is there anywhere you could go to be alone to do some mindfulness on your break- Headspace do a 10 day free trial. It relaxes and calms and helps with the rest of the day. I have found that running/HIIT/shred workouts have really boosted my energy levels- say 3 times a week even if it’s only 20 minutes a pop.

But ultimately 12 shifts are just an exhausting slog and personally I struggle way more now (at 40) than in my 20s.

Good luck- you do an amazing job.

Coffee ? I have an espresso when I get up and it wakes me up straight away . I eat well and exercise etc but this always keeps me going .

Thank you so much for your replies.
I’m on my break now and I have been thinking about my diet. Today I’ve had 2 poached on white bread, then a cheese salad sandwich and crisps, now another cheese sandwich with a cup of soup........ I’ve drunk 2 teas, 1 coffee and 500mls of water. That is probably contributing to the reason I’m tired. I’m off tomorrow so going to get organised with upping the veggies and increase my water intake. I thought about joining the gym as much to have time to myself as anything. I have 2 teenagers also.
Thanks again for your advice 💐💐

I'd also suggest vitamin D. I was tested and found my levels were too low. I have so much more energy now I take high-dose supplements, even when my kids wake me in the night. I use a spray one called dlux.

Bread makes me really sluggish...I always used to have a sandwich for lunch and really crashed about half an hour later and would have killed for a nap! Changed to salads/veggies with protein (mackerel,chicken, or tuna) or cheese and it made a huge difference - in the winter when I want something more comforting and hot, I make a huge vat of "green" soup for the week - leftover green veggies all go in (I don't use potatoes though), spices and herbs and blend it up.

Staff nurse here so totally get you!
I’ve started using a relaxation app on my breaks (when I get them) to completely switch off. I return feeling ready for the next part of the day.
I take a multivitamin plus iron but up my vit d in the winter because I don’t see day light.
I’m terrible for not drinking enough but try to make sure that I have healthy snacks to pick on throughout the day.

Can you afford a cleaner occasionally?