MANGE YOUR ENERGY

Look. I know how tempting it is to ask Google for new ways to muster up energy. But when it comes to energy, you need to stick to the basics. Your health should be the first thing you look at when examining your energy levels.

If your car has a full tank of gas but needs maintenance and repair, you won’t get as great mileage as you would if your car was in tip-top shape. The same goes for you. You can do all the things to gain more energy, but if your health isn’t in good order, you won’t spend your energy efficiently.

If you’re energy-poor, run a maintenance check. Ask yourself:

• Did I get quality sleep last night?
• Am I drinking enough water?
• Have I moved my body?
• Am I filling my body with nutritious food?

Your goal is to answer each question with a yes. Don’t underestimate what adequate sleep, water, exercise, and nutritious food can do for your energy levels.

Your body is an energy vessel, and now it’s time to check for leaks.

Pay attention to what activities drain you. If they don’t serve you or the person you want to be, ask yourself, “Should I be doing this?”

Once you know what activities are not worth your energy, put systems in place to avoid them. For example, if you want to stop mindlessly scrolling through Instagram, give yourself an Instagram time limit. If you’re constantly getting trapped in arguments with toxic people, set some firm boundaries.

When you avoid these energy zappers, you save your energy for activities that are in full alignment with your best self. These are the things worth spending your energy on.

So, how do you boost your energy? Here are two habits to add to your routine today.

Energizing Habit #1: Chase Happiness

It’s true: Happy people are more productive and creative than their negative counterparts. Because of this, it makes sense to do things that bring you joy to raise your energy levels.

Figure out what puts you in a good mood. Is it playing the guitar? Engaging in good conversation? Playing Sudoku? Coloring? Watching Corgi video compilations on YouTube?

Whatever those things are, jot them down and make a list. When you need an energy fix, choose an energy-boosting activity to do from that list.

For good measure, here’s a list of tried-and-true ways to improve your mood and re-energize:

• Exercise, such as a 10-15 minute walk or run.
• Tell someone you appreciate them, either via text, phone call, email, or in person.
• Write 3 things you’re grateful for.
• Meditate for 1-2 minutes.
• Deep belly breaths with a 5-6 second exhale.

Energizing Habit #2: Take Breaks Frequently

Have you heard of ultradian rhythms?

Ultradian rhythms are biological cycles that move our bodies from high energy and alertness to fatigue every 90-120 minutes.

At the end of each cycle, our bodies crave recovery. In fact, our bodies send us clues that it needs to recover. Fidgeting, reaching for more coffee, feeling drowsy, losing concentration–these are all signs that it’s time to take a break.

When you don’t give your body the recovery it needs, you force your body to rely on stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, to stay alert. And we don’t need any more stress, am I right?

All this is to say, listen to your body. Take breaks often. As for what you should do during a break, reach for your handy list of feel-good activities and do one of them. While 20-minute breaks are ideal, 5-minute breaks will do more for your energy levels than not taking one at all.

High-Energy Days Are Waiting for You

I hope you find this three-step approach helpful in managing your energy.

For the new month, I invite you to do the following:

• Add 1 healthy habit to your routine.
• Eliminate 1 energy waster.
• Create a list of 3 activities that make you happy that you can do anywhere.

When you take care of your body, avoid energy wasters, and know how to fill your energy tank on-demand, you have all the energy you need to seize each day.