Hi Uplifters!
In this three-part series this week on our three most precious resources: Motivation, Energy, and Time: “energy” is perhaps the most difficult to pin down. Is it mental energy, physical energy, some combination of those two, or a factor of a time or motivation deficit?
Understanding what’s zapping your energy starts with paying attention to the symptoms that your energy is low.
What indicators tell you that you need an energy boost?
Once you have a sense of those, consider what might give you a quick, easy boost. Here are a few of my favorites:
Eating well: I know this is old news, but what I eat has a huge impact on my energy. If I eat more processed foods I feel less energized mentally and physically. If I eat whole foods, my system rewards me with energy.
Water: Dehydration can lead to fatigue, so I drink lots of it every day and start each morning with a glass to kick things off.
Regular Exercise: This is probably one of the most important parts of my energy plan. I exercise every morning, no matter what because it fuels my brain, my body, my creativity, and I really enjoy it. (To be sure, that was not always the case. It took lots of trial and error to find what I love, and it’s changed many times over the years, but the habit is now so deeply ingrained that it’s reliably part of every morning). But, it’s more than just mornings. Throughout the day, a 5-minute walk, or a one-song dance party can turn my whole day around.
Prioritization: Every morning, I look at my calendar and pick the three truly essential tasks that need my energy and focus. I try to knock those out early so that I don’t have the added stress of urgency hanging over my head all day.
I gave up coffee: I know this is sacrilege to some, but switching from coffee to tea recently not only lowered my blood pressure overnight but gave me a much more stable energy level throughout the day.
Short Breaks: I use the Pomodoro technique (work for 25 minutes and then take a 5-minute break) to keep my focus sharp when I’m working on long tasks.
Balancing online and offline time: I spend LOTS of time on Zoom. I love the people I spend it with, but I also consciously plan offline time to balance it out.
Sleep: Last week, I felt sluggish, so I put myself to bed early and woke up transformed.
Mindful Breathing: Placing one hand on my heart, one hand on my gut, and taking three deep cleansing breaths relaxes my body, and mind and brings more ease and energy to any moment.
Talk to someone: Whether it’s a friend, my therapist, or even my plants, sometimes, just getting things out boosts my energy powerfully.
What boosts your energy? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!
PS Friendly reminder that you don’t need a huge list of energizers. You just need the ones that are a good fit and feel truly impactful for you, so maybe this week we can all experiment with different boosts to gather some data about what works for us.
Work with me
Wanna reduce the hustle and increase the impact? Are you not feeling motivated? Energized? Are you unable to find time for the things that matter to you? If you want more Motivation, Energy, and Time, sign up for a private one-hour M.E.T. Multiplier session with me. I’m a motivational strategist who has worked with hundreds of individuals and many of the world’s biggest companies to master motivation. In this session, I’ll help you break through your energy blocks, maximize your time, and discover your personal motivational profile so that you can do more of what you love.
See you tomorrow with part three of this series and a preview of this week’s guest! Listen to the latest episode of The Uplifters Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Substack, or YouTube, or follow our TikTok for uplifting daily videos.
Thank you so much for being here! Let’s keep rising higher, together, 💓 Aransas
I get outside, even if it's just for 5 minutes. I feel the weather, look at something in nature, and thank God for the beauty he provides! Being outdoors does something for my brain, heart, and spirit!
I listen to Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons”, read Mary Oliver, view Van Gogh and Georgia O’Keeffe. They speak to my Soul and when my Soul is engaged, my mind and body are fully awake. If I want endless energy, I discover ways to commune with my Soul. It is my only constant in a world of endless change.