9 Energy Habits

Your energy introduces you

before you say a word

We have all experienced bad energy days when you are tired and don’t feel like doing anything. This could be self inflicted from lack of sleep or a hangover but sometimes we feel low for no reason and just don’t feel positive and confident. 

Having a good energy level helps us to concentrate and cope with stress. High energy boosts our immune system and makes us feel more confident.

Get your 8 hours of sleep a night, regularly exercise and eat a balanced diet are regularly touted as good habits to ensure that we have the energy to lead a productive and happy life. There is no denying that they are a great foundation to good energy levels but there are other things that we can be doing to increase our energy levels and keep them high.

The best way to start is to understand yourself and reflect on what gives or takes away your energy. These can be people or things; ever notice when you talk to a certain someone you walk away feeling negative tired ? 

Surround yourself with people and things that boost your energy. Sometimes that is easier said than done, especially when one of the energy grabbing people is your boss but being aware of the fact means that you can consciously try and change how you react to them.

1.      Allow yourself more time to do things. I’ve got to admit this is something I need to work on. If you are constantly late or trying to cram too many things into a day how does it make you feel? Worried that you will be late, tired and stressed? Allowing yourself an extra 15 minutes for a journey takes the stress out of the situation and you arrive calm and composed. 

Be realistic about deadlines. Don’t think if I work late and/or weekends I can get it done by such and such a date. You are compromising yourself before you start. It is better to have a discussion at the start of the task so that you get the right time to deliver on time than a discussion because you are going to deliver late.

2.      No multi tasking.  How often have you finished the day with a load of half completed tasks? Are you a multi tasker? Then STOP.  A study by the University of London has found that multi-tasking increases cortisol, the stress hormone and it makes it more difficult to organise our thoughts. Flipping between tasks bombards our brains which leave us feeling mentally exhausted and also causes memory impairment.

When we complete a task we are hit with a dollop of the happy hormone dopamine and it gives us a sense of achievement. We feel more in control and it allows our brain to rest between tasks.

3.      Limit Interruptions.  If you have a big task at hand, at work or at home then switch off your phone until it is complete. Answering emails or checking Facebook is the same as multi tasking and you are moving between two tasks and your brain needs to re-focus between each task and it slows you down.

4.      Say No.  Asked to do something and know you don’t really have the time: than say no, negotiate another time you can do it or ask for longer to think about it.  We say ‘Yes’ because we want to help, or we are afraid: upsetting someone, losing an opportunity, being rejected, but your time, priorities and interests are important too. A simple ‘Sorry, I have plans this weekend but I can help you next weekend’ takes a lot of stress off you. 

5.      Stop being negative or hanging around with negative people.  Negativity can be second nature and often we don’t realise we are being negative. Complaining about someone’s driving, gossiping about a friend, not accepting a compliment are all negative behaviours . The ‘Grumpy’ man or woman seems comical and accepted in our society as normal but always focusing on the negative is tiring and draining. If you have negative friends consider steering the convesation to something more positive or spend less time with them.

One way to stop being negative is to notice the positives, however little. My mum used to tell me to count my blessings if I moaned about anything and I am still in the habit of sayimg a little thank you to the universe when something nice happens to me. Journalling is a good way to reflect and be grateful. Spend a little time each night writing down all the positive things that happened to you that day. It could be as simple as it didn’t rain and that is always something to be thankful for.

6.      Make your living spaces a place that you enjoy.  It is well known that clutter is an energy drainer, so are things that need fixing. Give yourself a small but achievable daily goal. De-clutter for 10 minutes a day, throw or give away 10 things a day to charity or fix one item. I recently did this and once I started I found I carried on and just wanted to get everything tidy and sorted. Surrounding yourself with things that you love is also a great energy boost. Photographs of your family, a bunch of flowers or nice furniture. Your home should be a place you want to be.

7.      Treat yourself. Remember you are important and looking after your well-being means you have more to give to others. Make time for that long luxurious bath, play a round of golf, eat that chocolate and don’t feel guilty. You deserve it.

8.      Do something that makes you excited and makes your heart sing. I love salsa dancing and I leave a class or salsa party exhilarated with a big smile on my face. Yours could be watching the sea, walking in the countryside, meeting friends or even an exercise class. Make sure you do it regularly to keep your happy hormones pumping and to keep you energetic. Hopefully we will be able to indulge in these sorts of activities soon.

9.      Practice Mindfulness. When your mind is racing it is usually thinking about things that you have to do in the future, or things that you should have done in the past. How often in the present moment are we on automatic pilot. It could be making a cup of tea or driving to work and not knowing how we got there. If you’ve ever been on a speed awareness course you may have been taught a technique where you need to talk about what is coming up in the road and what you are going to do. This is a mindfulness technique and keeps you in the present and aware of your actions. You don't need to make time for mindfulness. Have a shower, notice the smell of the steam, the warmth of the water and how your shapoo froths up. Talk a walk and notice the noise of the traffic or birds singing. Notice what the people you walk past are wearing. Notice where the leaves and litter gather in the crevasses on the street. Get out of your thoughts and into the present moment.

Studies have shown regularly practising mindfulness for just 10 minutes a day decreases anxiety, helps you focus and helps you sleep.

Pick one idea and do it this week and let me know how you feel.