Our life is centered around relationships. From our family to our community, to the world at large, we can’t avoid being in relationships. Even introverts and shy personality types are in relationships and must engage with people every day. Who we spend time with directly affects our energy. It’s important to consider if the people in your life are draining yours.
People carry their energy with them
People give off a vibe. There’s a saying that young children and dogs can tell if someone is worth knowing. People have ways about them that make them easier or harder to be around. Their energy can directly affect the energy and the people in the room.
A stranger in a room can create a presence that can change the entire atmosphere. Additionally, there may be people in your life who always seem to shift your mood when you come into contact. Without intentionally trying to defend yourself, it can change your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors just by being around them.
There’s more than one way to drain someone’s energy
There are plenty of ways for someone to drain your energy. Some are negative and some are neutral, but they all result in the same outcome- feeling worn out and tired after engaging.
Negativity is draining- Someone looking at the dim side of life, will drain your energy. People who are negative can make you feel defeated and tired in a short amount of time.
Problem-solving is draining- Some people have a tough time solving their own problems and look to others for support and guidance. People who are always in crisis mode can wear you out and drain the energy you need to solve your own problems.
Talking too much is draining- Introverts and people who need time to recharge are drained by small talk. Though talking in and of itself isn’t a negative thing, for some, it drains their energy and makes it harder to accomplish their daily tasks.
It’s important to remove yourself from draining people
Under a lot of circumstances, you can avoid people who have a creepy vibe or otherwise give off negative energy. If you encounter someone in a bad mood you can politely disengage and shake off the experience. If someone’s low energy is draining yours, you can exit their presence and reclaim your enthusiasm before their energy invades yours. If you simply must disengage from people in order to keep your stamina, it’s ok to tap out.
It might be impossible to disengage from people entirely, but you can limit the type and amount of draining people and experiences in your life. Identifying the types of people who tend to drain your energy helps. Limiting your exposure to them will go a long way to helping you generate and keep your energy levels higher.
3 Myths that Rob your Energy Needlessly
A myth is a story that has long-held beliefs to be true but isn’t always based on fact. Myths can be legends, practices, and behaviors that people hold to whether they are true, accurate, or helpful. We are all influenced by myths handed down from our culture, our community, and our families. Much of what we do we simply do because it’s always been done.
Some myths serve us. They keep us from walking in the deep woods for fear of encountering Big Foot or swimming in deep waters where the Loch Ness monster resides. Fear can be a very good thing when it motivates you to safety. Some myths; however, can rob us and keep us from having a better outcome or experience. Is it really necessary to wait half an hour after eating to swim?
When it comes to preserving our energy, there are myths that are actually stealing ways to generate more energy. Some of the notions people have to conserve energy are actually draining it all together. Let’s take a look!
Myth #1- Exercise will make you tired. It’s common to rest when feeling physically tired. At the end of a long day, it feels counterintuitive to hit the gym when your mind and body are fatigued from a long day. It can also feel really hard to rise early and hit the gym when your bed is cozy and your eyelids are heavy. There’s a myth that exercise will further drain your energy and make you more tired than you already were. This myth is needlessly robbing you of an excellent source to generate boundless energy.
Exercise strengthens your heart and releases feel-good chemicals in your brain. A stronger heart gives you stamina and serotonin helps regulate your mood. Even when you are physically tired, exercise actually helps revive and create more energy.
Myth #2. Eating three meals and two snacks each day gives you energy- In theory, eating consistently throughout the day is smart. Keeping your stomach satiated and your blood sugar stable will help you build and maintain energy, but there’s more to it than 3 meals and 2 snacks.
Everyone is unique and some people are adversely affected by foods. Foods that are high in salt, fat, and sugar won’t generate energy…they will drain it. For some, skipping breakfast or fasting, is an ideal way for them to hit the ground running until midday. For others, avoiding between meal snacks helps keep them from feeling sluggish and reaching for sugar-filled snacks. Get to know your body and be sure to choose healthy, whole foods to eat on a schedule that makes the most sense for your unique needs.
Myth #3. Work comes before play- No one is advocating blowing off responsibility but facing daunting tasks and grinding for too long can drain energy. Play is an important distraction that generates more energy for the work at hand.
Long bouts of concentration or exertion can cause fatigue. Break things up by taking a walk, engaging in a fun activity, or enjoying a positive distraction to refresh and rebuild your energy. Some people use methods like the Pomodoro method to break tasks down into 25-minute increments followed by energy-generating breaks.
There are a lot of myths out there that rob energy and keep good people from generating energy that they need for everyday life. Bust those myths and find the best rhythm for your day that keeps you energized and excited about what’s on your schedule.
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