Dear all,
Maintaining vitality and enthusiasm for life is an
important aspect to living well. But all the multi-tasking and constant rushing
about we do on a daily basis can make it difficult to keep our energy up. When
you think about it, with so many balls in the air and such high personal
expectations, it is no wonder that people feel drained and exhausted at the end
of each day.
I see this
tendency time and time again with my friends and known people and am very sympathetic to their plight. Many
are rushed and harried on a daily basis; yet still complain of fatigue and a
lack of energy. What I say to my clients who are struggling with this, and what
I want to say to you, is that there is a way to keep your energy level up, so
that you can feel happier and more in control of your life.
I like to think
about energy like I think about money. If you continually withdraw money from
your bank account without putting it back, eventually you will be overdrawn. In
real life, the bank charges hefty fees for this practice. However, when it
comes to your energy levels, the toll exacted on your body, mind and spirit is
even heavier when your energy reserve is depleted. To continue with my money/energy
analogy, if you haven't been putting money aside, you won't be able to pay your
bills, and if you haven't been looking after your energy levels, you are likely
to feel lifeless and listless.
So, how do you
keep your energy up? First, think about what might be depleting you in the
first place. It could be an emotional or physical drain. It could be a job, a
specific person or an unpleasant task, too much technology, time constraints,
negative people, etc. Whatever this drain may be, I suggest thinking of ways to
eliminate it or cut way back on it.
Budgeting
energy is one way to make things better, but you need to have regular energy
coming in as well. To this end, I ask my clients to think about the things that
make them happy and then I suggest doing some of these things regularly with
the goal of building up their energy bank. I thoroughly enjoy this step,
because people light up when they talk about the things they love. It is great
relief to realize that while it is important to take time for ourselves, it is
essential due to the multi-tasking and added pressures most of us experience in
today's world.
I can honestly
say that every cl friend who has made a
concerted effort to reduce their negative energy drains, all the while building
up positive energy doing things they love, has reported feeling better, having
more energy, and enjoying life more fully. That is a powerful testimony to this
practice. So, if you feel your energy bank is running low, try building it back
up by making time to do things that fill you with joy and peace. My guess is
that you'll be recharged in no time.
