Do you ever feel like you are constantly running on empty and can’t stop wondering how to protect your energy?
Like no matter how much you sleep, exercise, or eat healthy, you still feel drained?
Or maybe something happened in your life that totally blindsided you and knocked you way off balance?
You’re not alone.
Many of us are living in a world where we are constantly being bombarded with stressors, leaving us feeling exhausted and depleted. And with the added pressure of the economy and society over the last few years, the stressors only seem to keep piling on.
But the problem is not just physical exhaustion.
It’s the mental and emotional exhaustion that is most debilitating.
When we feel drained, we are less productive, less creative, and less engaged with the world around us.
We are more likely to make poor decisions, react emotionally to situations, and feel overwhelmed by even the simplest of tasks.
This can lead to burnout, which can take months or even years to recover from.
So what can we do to protect our energy and prevent burnout?
The answer lies in learning how to protect your energy.
In this article, we’ll explore the main talking points from this value packed podcast episode that Lisa recently published, discussing how to protect your energy when life gets hard.
By the end of this article, you’ll have a better understanding of how to prioritize your energy, reduce stressors, and ultimately lead a more fulfilling life.
If you prefer watching, here’s the video for How To Protect Your Energy When Life Is Life-Ing:
Or you can click one of these podcast links to listen to the audio version of the How To Protect Your Energy When Life Is Life-ing: Apple, Spotify, Google Podcasts.
Understanding the Importance of Protecting Your Energy
In this article, you will learn how to protect your energy in order to thrive in difficult situations.
Here are some actionable steps to help you implement this mindset shift:
- Acknowledge and accept your emotions without judgment.
- Practice self-compassion and self-love instead of beating yourself up.
- Allow yourself to feel your emotions without trying to suppress them.
- Give yourself what you need in order to process your emotions, whether it’s crying, screaming, dancing, or punching a pillow.
- Recognize the importance of rest, and prioritize getting enough sleep and downtime.
- Understand that personal growth requires investing time and effort into yourself.
- Take ownership of your own feelings and avoid blaming others.
- Learn to function under stressful situations and prioritize self-care.
- Use an energy audit to identify areas of your life that drain your energy and make necessary changes.
- Cultivate a support system of peers and mentors who can help you navigate difficult situations.
- Avoid numbing yourself with drugs or alcohol, as this will only rob you of energy in the long run.
By following these steps, you can develop the tools and mindset needed to protect your energy and thrive, even in the face of adversity.
Paying Attention to Your Thoughts: The Role of Mindset in Energy Preservation
Our thoughts have a powerful impact on our emotional state and overall well-being.
Negative self-talk can quickly spiral out of control and lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, and overwhelm.
That’s why it’s crucial to pay attention to your thoughts and challenge any negative or self-defeating beliefs that may be holding you back.
Here are some ways you can do that:
Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present in the moment and observing your thoughts without judgment. By practicing mindfulness regularly, you can learn to detach from negative thoughts and feelings and cultivate a greater sense of inner peace and calm.
Keep A Thought Journal
Writing down your thoughts in a journal can be a powerful tool for self-reflection and self-awareness. It can help you identify patterns in your thinking and challenge any negative beliefs that may be impacting your energy and well-being.
Surround Yourself With Positivity
The people you surround yourself with can have a significant impact on your thoughts and energy. Make a conscious effort to surround yourself with positive, supportive people who lift you up and encourage you to be your best self.
Challenge Negative Beliefs
When negative thoughts or beliefs come up, challenge them by asking yourself if they are really true. Often, our negative self-talk is based on false or exaggerated beliefs that don’t hold up to scrutiny.
Practice Gratitude
Gratitude is a powerful antidote to negative thinking. Take time each day to focus on the things you’re grateful for, whether it’s a supportive friend, a beautiful sunset, or a delicious meal. Focusing on the positive can help shift your mindset and improve your overall energy and well-being.
Seek Support: Strategies for Enlisting Assistance in Maintaining Your Energy
No matter how strong or independent you are, there will come a time when you need support.
Whether it’s a friend, a family member, or a professional, it’s important to reach out and ask for help when you need it. Here’s how:
Identify Your Support System
Make a list of people who you trust and can turn to for support. This might include family members, friends, or colleagues. It could also include a therapist, coach, or support group.
Communicate Your Needs
Be clear and specific about what kind of support you need. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you need and to be vulnerable with those you trust.
Set Boundaries
Be clear about what kind of support you’re looking for and what you’re not comfortable with. For example, you may not want advice or you may not want to talk about certain topics.
Don’t Isolate Yourself
Even if you don’t feel like talking about your problems, it’s important to stay connected to others. Isolation can make you feel worse and prevent you from getting the support you need.
As an entrepreneur or CEO, it can be particularly difficult to ask for help. You may feel like you need to have all the answers or that showing vulnerability is a weakness.
But the truth is, asking for help is a sign of strength.
It shows that you’re willing to do what it takes to take care of yourself and your business. Plus, having a support system can help you stay motivated, focused, and resilient, even during challenging times.
Don’t Judge Your Emotions: Why Allowing Your Feelings Is Key to Energy Conservation
One of the most critical steps to protecting your energy is allowing your emotions without judgment.
When life gets tough, it’s common to want to avoid or ignore emotions that feel negative or uncomfortable, such as grief, anger, frustration, or sadness.
However, when you suppress your emotions, you’re not only avoiding your feelings but also creating additional stress and tension in your body and mind.
Here’s how you can avoid judging your emotions:
- Allow yourself to feel: Avoid pushing down emotions. Instead, allow them to surface and acknowledge them.
- Don’t label your emotions: It’s important to avoid labeling your emotions as good or bad, right or wrong. Every emotion serves a purpose, so it’s best to experience them without judgment.
- Practice mindfulness: Pay attention to your thoughts and emotions without judging them. Mindfulness practices, such as meditation and breathing exercises, can help you become more aware of your emotions and observe them without reacting to them.
By allowing yourself to feel and acknowledge your emotions without judgment, you can reduce the internal struggle that often accompanies difficult emotions.
This, in turn, will reduce the amount of stress and tension in your body and mind, helping you better protect your energy.
Allow Yourself to Rest: The Role of Relaxation in Energy Preservation
When life gets hard, it can feel like we need to keep pushing ourselves harder and harder to get through it.
But the truth is, rest is a crucial part of the healing process.
Here’s what you can do to allow yourself to rest:
Give Yourself Permission
Sometimes, we feel guilty for taking time off or resting because we feel like we should be doing something else. But giving yourself permission to rest is the first step in allowing yourself to fully recover. It’s okay to take a break when you need it.
Get Plenty Of Sleep
Lack of sleep can be a major cause of stress, anxiety, and exhaustion. Make sure you’re getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night. If you’re having trouble sleeping, try implementing a calming bedtime routine or speaking to a doctor or sleep specialist.
Disconnect From Technology
Our phones, laptops, and TVs can be major sources of stress and overstimulation. Taking a break from technology can help you unwind and relax.
Listen to your body: If you’re feeling tired or run down, your body is telling you that you need to rest. Don’t ignore these signals. Take a break and allow yourself to recharge.
Take Breaks Throughout The Day
Even if you can’t take an entire day off, taking small breaks throughout the day can be just as helpful. Try going for a walk, meditating, or simply taking a few deep breaths to reset your mind and body.
Remember, rest is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. By taking care of yourself and allowing yourself to rest when you need it, you’ll be better equipped to handle the challenges that life throws your way.
Take Responsibility for Your Feelings: Empowering Yourself to Manage Your Energy
In order to protect your energy, it’s essential to take responsibility for your feelings.
This means avoiding blaming others for how you feel, and instead, learning to be responsible for your own emotions.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of playing the victim, but this mindset only leads to feelings of helplessness and disempowerment.
When something happens that triggers a negative emotion, it’s important to take a step back and examine the situation.
Instead of immediately looking for someone to blame, try to identify the root cause of the feeling. This can be uncomfortable and challenging, but it’s a necessary step in taking responsibility for your emotions.
It’s also important to understand that your emotions are your own. No one else can make you feel a certain way.
You are in control of how you choose to respond to a situation.
This can be empowering, but it can also be overwhelming. Remember that it’s okay to ask for help and support when you need it.
Finally, it’s important to avoid playing the victim.
This means taking ownership of your feelings and your responses to a situation.
Instead of feeling helpless, try to focus on what you can do to improve the situation. This might involve setting boundaries, having difficult conversations, or making changes to your environment.
By taking responsibility for your emotions and avoiding the victim mentality, you can protect your energy and maintain a sense of control over your life. It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it in the long run.
Invest in Personal Growth: The Value of Continuous Self-Development
Personal growth is a journey that never ends.
It is an ongoing process that requires a lifetime of dedication, learning, and self-exploration. Therefore, it is essential to invest in yourself to help you better navigate life’s challenges. This means allocating resources, such as time and money, to help you grow and develop as an individual.
Investing in oneself is never a regret. It can help you develop the skills and resources you need to handle life’s challenges better.
It can also help you build resilience and become more self-aware, which can lead to improved decision-making and a more fulfilling life.
One way to invest in personal growth is by seeking support from coaches or therapists. They can help you gain insight into your patterns of behavior and provide guidance on how to overcome obstacles. They can also offer strategies for developing healthy coping mechanisms and managing stress, anxiety, and depression.
Working with a coach or therapist can help you stay accountable and motivated to continue your growth journey. They can also provide you with the tools and resources to overcome any setbacks you may experience along the way.
Ultimately, investing in personal growth is about creating a foundation for a healthier, happier life.
It can help you cultivate a positive mindset, develop self-confidence, and achieve greater personal and professional success.
So don’t hesitate to invest in yourself and take advantage of the opportunities that come your way to help you grow and thrive.
How To Protect Your Energy
- Recognize the importance of protecting your energy and prioritize self-care to manage high levels of stress
- Start paying attention to your thoughts and practice mindfulness
- Take responsibility for your own feelings and avoid blaming others for how you feel
- Stop judging your emotions and allow yourself to feel them without trying to suppress or avoid them
- Prioritize rest and make sure you’re getting enough sleep and downtime to recharge your energy
- Invest in your personal growth by continuously learning and seeking out opportunities for self-improvement
- Seek support from a coach or therapist to help you navigate difficult emotions and situations
What’s Your Next Step To Protecting Your Energy?
If you’d like more information about our Energy program, click here – https://lisacarpenter.ca/energy