Reclaiming Energy in Human Resources

Sometimes being in HR means losing pieces of yourself you didn’t expect.

I’m naturally silly. I love to laugh, joke, and connect with people in a real way. I actually enjoy shop talk because it’s raw and unfiltered. That’s me, my personality. If you’ve heard me speak in the last couple of years, you’ve seen the real me.

But in HR? It’s different. I’ve passed on after-work invites because I didn’t want to overhear a conversation I’d later have to address. I’ve stayed quiet in moments where I wanted to jump in and be part of the fun, but instead wore the “professional” mask the role requires.

I went into HR because I wanted to support people in their careers. Somewhere along the way, I realized I was losing parts of mine. The fun parts, the energized parts, the parts that made me feel fully me.

The Hidden Energy Drain of HR

For HR professionals, the energy drain doesn’t always come from long hours or endless to-do lists. It comes from holding space for others while shrinking yourself. It’s the tension of caring deeply while protecting your own boundaries.

• You’re the one people come to when things fall apart.

• You’re the trusted voice in the room, even when you don’t feel heard yourself.

• You’re the connector, the fixer, the policy keeper...and sometimes, the scapegoat.

And while all of that is important, it can chip away at your sense of identity and joy if you don’t find ways to restore yourself.

Bringing Clarity Back to Your Days

This was an interesting lesson learned for me. You don’t have to carry this weight alone. I was carrying it alone within my organization but in the deep darkness of my burnout, I began talking to my HR peers outside of those walls. And found out, there are more of us carrying this weight than I realized. That I wasn't alone.

You can reclaim the energy that first brought you into the profession. It starts by making small but powerful shifts:

• Creating clarity in your days so your role doesn’t consume your whole identity. So that every request that comes in isn't priority, dictating your days. 

• Finding outlets where your authentic personality has space to breathe. What will be your passion project, your initiative, your 'thing' that brings back the spark. 

• Building support systems...inside and outside of work. Ones that allow you to laugh, release, and reconnect with who you are.

It’s not about being less professional. It’s about being aligned and whole. 

I’ve walked this path. I know the push and pull of loving the work but feeling drained by the constant expectation to “have it all together.” That’s why I partner with HR professionals and leaders to coach them on this journey. 

Because when you’re fully you, HR becomes more sustainable, more impactful, and more fun. So if you’re reading this and nodding along, know this: you’re not alone, and you don’t have to figure it out on your own.

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