Let’s face it. It is very hard to feel motivated and inspired to do something when you don’t have any energy. The thought that if only you had the motivation, then you would definitely go through with your plans is wrong. Motivation can be an element in your accomplishment success, but it is a very small element.
It may be even harder to stay on track if you feel sad, uninspired, or upset. Things that seem small may take a lot of effort. Having enough energy is essential to handle the stress of the day, catch up on your commitments, or meet your daily responsibilities.
One of the main principles in health and wellness coaching is to maximize what you have. So, to start getting more energy you need to conserve and use the energy you already have.
But before we start, are you part of my community? Join my newsletter to get the latest action steps on how to eat a healthy plant-based diet, de-stress, manage your time better, prioritize yourself, and anything in between so that you INCREASE your energy, SAVE time and INVEST well in your wellness!
Is High Energy Level Possible?
If your life feels like a roller-coaster, you are not alone. Take a deep breath in. Exhale slowly. Because having energy is within your reach.
It is possible to have energy for things that matter to you.
Energy lets you play with your daughter or son, it gets you to fit into your clothes, and it makes you feel confident to ace that meeting at work.
What would you be able to do if you had the energy? How would you show up in your life if you were confident that you can face the tough conversation you need to have, the financial struggle, or that dinner party?
As they say, the sky is the limit really. And there is never a shortage of energy available to you.
It doesn’t matter where you are at on your stress wheel. It is not necessary to quit your job, cut off from your phone, and go soul searching to increase your energy levels. Although these could help, I want to show you an easier way.
Your Not-To-Do List
Take it from someone who has struggled with low levels of energy for years. I wished I had known that I was the cause of my energy leaks. My plan of action was to do more, to take more on, and to show up in more places, preferably at the same time.
Staying up late, feeling exhausted, and hitting the snooze button three times, eventually being late were also on my morning to-do list.
I want to be honest with you, and I want to add that it worked. It was almost impossible to feel energetic and even if I had any energy, I was losing it very fast. It was the opposite of what I needed to be doing to have energy.
How about you?
Are your actions consuming or generating energy? Are they energy boosters or energy zappers?
If your morning makes you feel tired, you need an old-fashioned not-to-list! And here are three of my go-to tasks.
#1 Not Having An Oxygen Mask
The first not-to-do on your list is to let others plan your time first thing in the morning.
Don’t you find that our actions are very reactive? You spend your days putting out fires. It is like a daily marathon, going faster and faster and gaining speed as the day progresses. You don’t remember where you are going, and you don’t remember where you have just been.
When you are reactive in your day you attend to the needs of others.
It is not about being selfish. It is about starting your day from a place of you. It is about checking with yourself if your needs are being met.
Because the best way you can serve others is when you know what matters to you.
It is like in case of an emergency, you put on the oxygen mask first, and then you assist others. If you don’t have your own oxygen mask, there are nil chances of you saving anyone else.
I wasn't a great friend, sister or daughter when I didn't have energy. I was easily irritated, always angry and I didn't listen. It is not because of my personality. It was the stress, overwhelm, and lack of energy talking.
#2 Don't Fold Your Laundry
Neuroscience 101 teaches us that our brains are most productive about two to three hours after we wake up. Think about it. What you do first thing in the morning matters. You can either let tasks take your precious resource away, or you can multiply it.
Don’t waste your most productive time on mindless tasks.
You can spend your energy folding the laundry, or you work on that important presentation, have a business call, or build a meaningful connection with your loved ones.
Whether you like it or not, you will be more distracted, less productive, and more tired as the day progresses. But that does not mean that you can’t accomplish your bold goals.
By the way, I am not against folding the laundry. I still do it, but I do it when all the other important projects are done. I don’t need any energy to pair socks, but I definitely need to write inspiring content, make a healthy food choice, or lend a sympathetic ear to my friend.
So, how about you? Are you spending your precious morning on tasks that move you forward?
#3 Not Being Selective
I know that you are a high achiever, and you want to do it all. And I am a true believer that you can do it all. But you need to clearly define your ALL.
You don’t want to waste your energy on mindless tasks and you don’t want your energy to be taken by the all, which you didn’t define.
You need to become selective of the actions you take.
And to do that, you need to learn the art of prioritizing. You might have learned to list all the tasks you want to get done during the day, but c’mon. There are not enough hours in the day to do them.
Only by streamlining your focus, you can achieve more. What is not going to make your to-do list today?
The Not-To-Do List
Your not-to-do list needs to be written the way you craft your to-do list. To accomplish big things, to feel better, to eat healthier foods, to be more patient, or to limit your physical discomfort, you need to have energy.
There are laws of energy of course (if you missed it, read it HERE) but your morning matters more than you think.
First, you need to start by putting the oxygen mask on yourself before you can assist others. Do you start your day by fulfilling the needs of others? Are you feeling stressed and overwhelmed? You are most likely being reactive, and you are not even sure why.
What is the first thing you do when you wake up? Neuroscience teaches that your brain has its highest capacity in the morning. Fill that time with tasks that matter to you, that will get you moving, rather than tasks that take your energy.
Have you defined your all? What is it that you want to do? Once you know where your focus should go, you can be selective on what goes on your to-do list.
What is your not-to-do list?
Are you part of my community? Join my newsletter to get the latest action steps on how to eat a healthy plant-based diet, de-stress, manage your time better, prioritize yourself, and anything in between so that you INCREASE your energy, SAVE time, and INVEST well in your wellness!