ENERGY

April 6, 2022

I started writing this blog and all of a sudden my thoughts scattered in a million directions. I took a deep breath and realized I needed to define “energy”. I’m talking about the physical stamina and mental focus that working moms need from waking until bedtime. I’m not talking about a caffeine buzz or connecting oneself to the universe. Just the stuff we all need to get through the day...well. 

I used to think that I “had” energy or I didn’t. I used to think “I just don’t have a lot of energy today” and I’d let that thought drive the day. My daughters are just 19 months apart and there were specific times in their early years where I remember this being the norm. I was so tired, not just because one of them was (and still is) a poor sleeper but because I wasn’t managing myself or my environment well. Looking back, there were so many tools I could have used. But I didn’t know! I was just stuck in my thought loop about “I don’t have a lot of energy today.” 

The other interesting revelation as I started to write was that this topic connects so well with our previous two months’ topics: Selfcare and Productivity. These are some of the overlaps: 

Energy is fueled by: 

Physical Health 

Mental & Emotional Health 

Social Connections 

Sleep 

Nutrition 

Hydration 

Movement 

Renewal Time 

Doing Less 

Doing the Right Stuff 

Power Mornings 

These other tips might boost energy too: 

Sunlight, Fresh Air & Vitamin D 

Positive Mindset (a future blog topic) 

Music 

Short naps 

Peace & Quiet 

Healthy Relationships (a future blog topic) 

And these may take away from our efforts to have more energy: 

Caffeine 

Drugs & Alcohol 

Digital Time & Devices 

Doing too much 

Perfectionism 

Audit your day and look for your energy peaks and valleys. What’s driving those? Is it a habit or a mindset intervention that’s needed? Is it you that needs to change or something/someone in your environment that needs adjusting? Pick one scenario, pinpoint the energy drag and try out something new to raise your energy levels in that scenario. Be sure to look at your energy peaks and compare those to your valleys for ideas and solutions.