This helps me to recognise that I only have a certain amount energy to draw upon, I consider how I want to spend that 1 litre of energy, what is important for me as far as my health, well-being, work, relationships and life generally and what my priority needs are. I make better choices and it helps me look after myself rather than pushing myself beyond my limits.
Your energy
- How do you spend your energy?
- What adds to your energy?
- What depletes it?
- How do you get back from ‘exhausted’?
What keeps up your energy?
We know the answer to this – it’s just that it can sometimes feel hard to:
- Eat well
- Manage our sleep
- Go out for a walk (when sitting on the lounge is so tempting) or do any other exercise and see some sunshine every day
- Make time for things that make us happy whatever that is, sport, games, socialising, hobbies and creative activities.
What are the top specific actions that help you keep up your energy?
Energy depletion
The big contributors include:
- Being around negative and challenging people
- Not allowing personal space and time for yourself to recharge
- Giving up your exercise and other good habits because you are ‘too busy’
- Taking on too much and feeling resentful about it
- Insisting on doing something perfectly when a standard of very good would work.
What one energy depletion activity could you say no to?
Numbing behaviours
When feeling a lot of pressure and strain we may fall into activities that are numbing rather than being joyful and energising. Numbing can take ‘the edge off’ those hard feelings. In some ways it can help us feel less of the stresses and strains and give us comfort in times of challenge. In the long run these numbing behaviours are less helpful because they take us away from the issues and emotions that are impacting us on a deeper level. Some examples of numbing are:
- Overeating, including foregoing the bowl and eating ice cream straight from the tub
- Binging TV shows long after a sensible sleep time has passed
- Too much caffeine and other ways of masking fatigue
- Too many glasses of alcohol and too few alcohol-free days.
For me this list feels like Covid lock down times!
Do you recognise any of these numbing behaviours?
Suggestions for managing your energy
- Make self-care and self-support a priority
- Stay connected to people who are close to you
- Seek support when you need it
- Say no to actions and commitments that are energy depleting and or numbing
- Each week schedule at least one personal energising activity
- Try to keep moving as much as possible.
Next steps
- What activities do you find energising and top up your one litre of energy?
- What key activities do you need to change or stop doing that deplete your energy?
- Good sleep is important otherwise you might wake up with half a litre of energy the next day. Is there anything you can do to support good sleep?
Burnout is when you aren’t able to maintain your usual energy level every day. When we are busy and looking after ourselves, we will generally wake up with roughly the same amount of energy every day. Burnout is when we find ourselves having a consistently lower level of energy than usual.
It takes sustained work to rebuild energy levels and we know that one or two good night’s sleep won’t replenish our energy levels. Actions that reset the nervous system and/ or complete the stress cycle, moving from stress to calm, so we are not sitting in a pile of stress every day, is what is needed over a period of time.
In our coaching work, we support people to bring good energy to their lives and to focus on helpful ways to use their energy. None of us can be a good leader, team member, colleague or family member if we are exhausted or frayed.
Best wishes for a 2023 that is full of energy, joy and health from the Brave People team.