Energy Management for Greater Resilience
“I…have made fire!” - Tom Hanks, “Castaway”
I recently wrote that being able sense your own energy levels - physical, mental, emotional and spiritual - empowers you to become more resilient. By sensing at any given time how each of your "energy batteries" are doing (high? low?), you can take steps to recharge any that are running low.
Good energy management is a great resilience-building tool. When you get the hang of it, you will not get so depleted and have more energy to handle whatever life may throw at you.
Here are some steps you can take to recharge your various energies.
To recharge PHYSICAL energy:
drink a lot of extra water
eat nutrient-rich meals featuring brightly colored vegetables
prioritize sleep
stay off alcohol for a while
take an easy, low-stress walk outdoors focusing on what you see around you
sunbathe for 10-15 minutes
take a hot bath with Epsom salts
exercise in a way that you enjoy
To recharge MENTAL energy:
meditate to clear your mind
reduce your to-do list
say "no" to anything that makes you feel overwhelmed
stop multitasking: pay full attention to one task at a time
stay off social media for a few days
redirect your attention to your five senses, sensing your physical body and environment
To recharge EMOTIONAL energy:
play with or snuggle a pet or loved one
hold space for someone else and really listen to them
do something nice for a person or community
give someone a sincere compliment
accept any compliments you receive with a simple “Thank you” and really take it in
say positive, encouraging things about yourself, out loud, while looking at yourself in a mirror
secretly notice your positive qualities and praise yourself inside while going through your day
To recharge SPIRIT energy:
take a step, even a small one, toward a personal goal
make a normal, boring activity more fun by doing it differently
if you're a planner, do something spontaneous just because you feel like it
if you're not a planner, plan something doable that will bring you closer to a longstanding dream
recall peak experiences of your life and reflect on why they were peak
find a pocket of time every week to pursue one of your passions, even if it's only for half an hour. Calendar it and actually do it.
Do you have other ideas for how to recharge your energies? I want to hear them. Email me!
