Where to Start When Your Energy Is Low

Low energy can happen for a variety of reasons, especially at this time of year. Around the holidays there is less daylight (in the northern hemisphere), there are a lot of expectations, traditions to keep up with, and it’s harder to fit in time to recharge. Then there are the rest of life’s twists and turns that may be zapping your energy, like work, health issues, or taking care of family. My own energy has been in the dumps lately, which is why I’ve been turning to what works for me to refill my energetic cup. 

Three Types of Energy

In my High Performance curriculum I use for life coaching, we spend time first on clarifying who you want to be and what you want to be doing with your life. Then we move on to the topic of energy, because if you don’t have the mental, physical, and emotional energy to be doing what you want to be doing, you won’t get far. Read more about the three types of energy here. 

It doesn’t matter if your goal is to move up the career ladder, get your business off the ground, or be able to sit on the floor playing with your kids or grandkids, you need all three types of energy to make it happen. 

Lately, I’ve been feeling like I’ve been lacking to various degrees in all three. It’s probably part menopause and part the emotional roller coaster of my father-in-law’s death and some health issues my son was having. Because I’m clear on who I want to be, a woman with a lot of energy to ride her bike, swim, do yoga and also take care of her family and coach women to be their best selves, I knew it was time to do something about it.

What Has Worked in The Past?

When a client of mine is feeling stuck, one strategy we use is to look back at what has worked for them in the past. Personally, I remember going through a really hard time in college. Even though it was thirty years ago, during that time I focused on my physical health to keep me going. Now I know that it works for me because when I feel physically healthy, I feel better mentally and emotionally, too.

In November, once life had settled down a bit after my father-in-law’s passing, I started taking baby steps with my physical health. Then I made a stronger commitment to myself to specifically focus on getting my fitness back. I made a plan, told my family so they could support me, and I put it on the calendar. Like one of my mentors, Marie Forleo, says, “If it ain’t scheduled, it ain’t real.”

I’ve been scheduling when I’ll do what throughout the week and prioritizing that time over almost anything else. I’ve also engaged my son in my goals. When our schedules align, he’ll ride with me for the first 20 or 30 minutes of his own ride (his warm-up). So if I’m having a day when I’m not “feeling like it,” he can help persuade me to get out there!

So far it’s working, and I know that if I get past the first few weeks, I’ll feel like getting out there more on my own. 

What Isn’t Working Now?

In addition to looking at what’s worked in the past to lift your energy, it’s important to identify what isn’t working for you now. We change with time and can also find ourselves stuck in a rut. Try and examine what could be affecting your energy levels, how you may be self-sabotaging, or what bad habits you’ve found yourself in. Some ideas could be around your diet, how you spend your time in the evenings, or even who you surround yourself with.

I know just how tough it can be to start when your energy is low, but it’s important to focus on solutions to get you feeling well again. Even the smallest steps, like drinking more water or going for a fifteen minute walk a day can be the push you need that will then snowball into more positive behaviors and a boost in energy.