Refuel or Die
Fatigue isn’t overwork; it’s failure to refuel.
You go dry when you pour out more than you pour in. No one flourishes on empty.
Energy flows out naturally; it’s restored intentionally. Intervention solves energy depletion. Create a refueling schedule.
Life management is energy management.
Refuel before your tank is empty:
Your energy-tank is your responsibility. Don’t expect others to fill it for you.
A sample replenishing schedule…
9:00 a.m. – Pick up the phone and call someone to say thank you or tell them you appreciate them.
11:00 a.m. – Assess your morning. What have you completed? Give yourself an atah girl/boy.
2:30 p.m. – get up from your desk and take a short walk about. Hold your head up and breathe deeply. Try strolling rather than walking to get somewhere.
4:30 p.m. – record something you’re glad you did today.
End of day – send a thank you email to a colleague, boss, or employee. Leave a note to yourself that reads something like, “You did your best yesterday. What can you do today that will make you proud?”
Schedule refueling times into your day, even if you aren’t exhausted. Keep your energy-tank closer to full than empty.
7 Ways to Refuel:
- Turn off the lights. Close your eyes and breathe until your heart rate and breathing slows.
- Become a sprinter. Push yourself in short bursts, then refuel.
- Shift your attitude from “have to” to “get to”.
- Use positive language exclusively for an hour.
- Avoid energy vampires as much as you can. Hang with people who fuel your energy tank.
- Pretend less. Doesn’t it feel energizing to go home and stop pretending?
- Start that project that’s hanging over your head.
Self-evaluation: Evaluate yourself by how well you energize others.
What are the symptoms of an empty energy-tank?
If you created a refueling schedule, what might it look like?
Still curious:
20 Ways to Increase Personal Energy
How to Manage Energy: 4 Out Of 10 Are Drained At Work
Give yourself time to practice self-reflection. Purchase The Vagrant to learn about structured self-refection.
