Long term care work is emotionally heavy, physically demanding, and spiritually exhausting. Very few people talk about it honestly.
Long term care work is emotionally heavy, physically demanding, and spiritually exhausting. Very few people talk about it honestly. This is more than feeling tired after a long shift. It is the kind of deep exhaustion that settles into your patience, your sense of purpose, and even your identity.
This is real talk from the break room and the nurse’s station, not from a policy manual. If you have ever thought to yourself that you cannot keep doing this, you are not alone. You are not weak. You are human.
This is a space to name what you are feeling, understand why it happens, and explore what you can do when you find yourself soul tired. No judgment and no fluff.
What It Means to Be Soul Tired
Soul tired is not solved by a nap or a day off. It is the complete draining of emotional reserves and the fading of joy or meaning. It can feel like smiling while feeling empty inside, clocking out without being able to mentally disconnect, or showing up every day but feeling detached from the work.
Quick Self Check
If several of these feel familiar, your mind and body may be signaling a need for care:
• Feeling numb or disconnected
• Deep dread of work
• Feeling like you are faking empathy
• Losing patience with coworkers or residents
• Feeling guilt for not caring enough
• More headaches, insomnia, or stomach issues
• Withdrawal from people outside of work
• Thinking about quitting out of exhaustion
• Feeling hopeless or stuck
Why Soul Tiredness Hits Long Term Care So Hard
Long term care is a uniquely emotional environment. It is deeply relational and it never truly pauses.
Key reasons include:
Emotional attachments and frequent loss
You build real relationships with residents, grieve their decline or passing, and return to work with little time or support to process.
Chronic understaffing and overload
Working short is common. Breaks disappear. Personal limits stretch every day.
Invisible labor
Comforting, listening, and advocating are not measured in productivity reports but they consume enormous emotional energy.
Moral distress
You know what residents deserve, yet policies, staffing, or burnout may prevent you from delivering it. This creates deep internal conflict.
Lack of emotional safety
Even within healthcare, admitting you are not okay can feel risky. The culture often emphasizes toughness over vulnerability.
How to Begin Healing When You Are Soul Tired
Healing takes time, but small steps can make a real difference.
Name it without shame
Burnout is not a personal failure. It is a signal that something needs attention.
Reclaim your why
Think back to the moment, person, or calling that drew you to this work. Let it center you rather than burden you.
Protect your energy
Set boundaries wherever you can. Take your breaks. Avoid work calls on your days off when possible.
Create micro moments of restoration
Five minutes of music, journaling, fresh air, or silence can help your nervous system reset. Small habits can spark larger healing.
Talk to someone
You do not need to carry your emotional weight alone. Therapists, chaplains, and peer support can provide important perspective and relief.
Do one thing just for you
Even ten minutes a week spent doing something you enjoy can help rebuild your energy and identity outside of work.
When Soul Tired Becomes Something More
If the exhaustion becomes persistent hopelessness, numbness, or thoughts of self harm, reach out for support right away.
Helpful Resources
• Employee Assistance Program with confidential counseling
• The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available by call or text
• The National Alliance on Mental Illness at nami.org for education and support
• Local or nonprofit therapy programs for frontline workers
• Mental wellness apps such as Headspace, Calm, or Insight Timer which often offer free access for healthcare workers
Final Words: You Matter Too
You have been strong for many people for a very long time. True strength includes knowing when to rest, when to ask for support, and when to offer compassion back to yourself.
You are not failing. You are not alone. You are human.
Even meaningful work requires rest. Even healers need healing. And even the most soul tired among us can find light again one breath at a time, one boundary at a time, and one moment of self care at a time.
