Have you ever stopped to think about the things in your life that give you energy or that zap it right out of you?
Energy Drainers
Let’s start with energy drainers.
- What are the things in your life that just drain you?
You can feel it…..your mood is different, you might dread something, you could feel pain and hurt…. It could be things in your environment such as clutter or disorder. What about unfinished projects? Or even things such as people, to-do lists, e-mail and text messages, unmet needs,emotions, pressure at work, distractions…….. (I think you get the idea).
I had my own drainer in our basement this fall…..We home schooled our children for years (my oldest ’til 10th grade) and have about a zillion books (ok, maybe a slight exaggeration). We have six beautiful, 7-ft-tall bookcases that we had made when we lived in Mexico. I decided that I wanted to turn the school area into an office/craft room. Well, that would be a good thing…….if I knew what I was going to do with all of the books and things I took off of the shelves. I didn’t think that far ahead and zealously cleared shelves. Nice. Until you looked at the floor. There were now piles of books that were on the shelves sitting on my floor. Major floor clutter. Very draining! I got a little overwhelmed with what to do with them and they sat there. For months. (did I just admit that? Does it help if I say I was super busy and just kind of forgot about them since I wasn’t down there much? ok,… enough excuses) I finally bought book boxes and boxed them up. I will pull them out in the spring and look into selling them at a home school book fair.
Ok, so now it’s your turn for confession drainers. Go grab a piece of paper and something to write with. You’re going to make a list. I’ll wait for you.
Are you back?
I have 5 categories for you to think about:
- energy-draining people
- energy-draining emotions
- energy drainers at work
- energy drainers at home
- other energy drainers
Now, think of 3-5 things in your life that you could write under each of those categories.
Was it hard to do? Was it way too easy? (ok, then we need to talk….) Have you ever really thought about it before? Sometimes it could be something really small and simple, but it could also be something difficult like deep pain, suffering, or loss.
Now, look at each of those things you wrote down and determine if it is something you can overlook (for now?) or if it something you need to take action on.
- If you have any that need action, what are you going to do about them?
- When will you do it?
Energy Gainers
Ok, now on to the energy gainers. (aren’t you glad to move on to the positive?)
- What are the things you love to do?
- What makes life worth living?
- What gives you a sense of peace and calm in your life?
- What brightens your day?
- What makes you smile? (think about people, activities, and habits)
- How do you recharge?
- If you could spend the day (or even an hour) doing anything you wanted to, what would you do?
Do you still have your paper? Good. Write down 3-5 of the energy gainers in your life.
As much as we benefit from our energy gainers, they’re often the first things to go when we get busy. Have you noticed that? Do you need to make time for any energy gainers in your life again?
What is one thing you can will do this week to gain more energy in your life?
I’d love to hear what you have to say about this topic! Comments welcome!
