How do I stop feeling drained from being friendly all day?

You can connect with nearly anyone who walks in, and that gift has a cost no one warns you about: by the end of the day, the warmth you hand out all shift long leaves little for yourself. That emptiness is real. It is the tax on doing emotional work well. Part of what drains you is performing warmth you do not feel in the moment. You cannot always fix that, but you can stop expecting yourself to be genuinely delighted by every interaction. Kind and professional is enough; you do not owe every customer the deepest part of you. Let some of it be a role you step into and, crucially, step back out of. Then guard what is left. Build small recoveries into your day, even a few quiet minutes alone, and protect your off-hours warmth for the people who actually refill you. One step: after work, do one thing that asks nothing of you socially. You spend all day giving. You are allowed to keep some back.