Was it better on any other ROM that you've used previously? I'm using [ROM] BAMF Paradigm v2.1 [4.1.1] JRO03H - Galaxy Nexus - Official BAMF Galaxy Development - TeamBAMF and it seems to working well. It's difficult to determine your usage by just your post, but multiple apps syncing, signal strength, screen-on time as well as a multitude of things can affect your battery life.
I didn't do much of anything. I use the phone for calls, texts, emails and a little web browsing. I'm by no means a heavy user, but with the 2100mAh battery, I easily get a full day of use and then some.