Feeling drained? Tips to recharge

Do you ever feel depleted? If you’re a parent, caregiver, employee, grandparent, or…

human…

then I suspect you feel drained at times!

When you feel busy all day, or maybe you grab quick meals, or have little time for fun and relaxation, it’s normal to feel drained at least some of the time.

But always feeling worn out isn’t healthy. It can also leave you less productive and less happy. And that stinks.

You’re kind of like a battery…if you don’t give it time to recharge then you’ll drain it completely.

Finding a way to incorporate practices to help you refuel, rebalance, quiet your mind, and slow your breath can be a tremendous help with recharging.

But first, you have to figure out what’s draining you.

What’s draining YOUR battery?

What activities drain you may be completely different from someone else. This is not a one-size-fits-all approach.

Start paying attention when you’re feeling drained. Maybe it’s

• after a zoom meeting

• when looking at your to-do list

• thinking about your to-do list

• a day full of meetings

• thinking about that closet you want to go through

• planning a healthy dinner

At this point, I normally suggest that you look to see if there’s any activity you can let go of. I do think this can be helpful thinking.

However….

the reality is that you simply can’t limit every single activity that drains you. But my hope is that you build restorative ones into your life.

Once you start becoming aware of what drains you, you’ll be able to notice when you’re out of balance. And hopefully, incorporate some of the tips from below to keep you from getting too drained.

Tips to recharge

I’ve grouped the tips based on what may drain your battery. But no single recharge works for everyone, and what helps you may vary from day to day. Focus on what feels right for you.

Starting at a screen or sitting at a desk

If spending a lot of time in one position feels draining then try out the tips below.

• Move your body by going for a walk outside in nature!

• Spend 2 minutes looking outside, away from a screen

• Do 5 minutes of this 15-minute video I made (if you like dogs then you’ll especially like this one since Luna insisted on laying on my mat the ENTIRE time).

Lots of interaction or constantly being asked for things

If you have a lot of meetings or people (or kids) coming to you for things you may recharge by finding some solitude.

• Take a bath

• Put on your headphones and play some music

• Close your eyes and breathe for 2 minutes. Simply listen to your breath come in and out.

Working alone

You may find that working by yourself, feeling more isolated, can be draining. Heck, maybe you spend time around people but still lack connection.

• Go to a yoga class (or pilates, aerobics, etc). Simply being present with other people and their energies can be rejuvenating.

• Call up friends to meet up. Connecting with others can help you recharge. Several dear friends and I are committed to meeting up every month because it’s that important to us. And honestly, it stinks if I can’t make it because it really does help rejuvenate me.

• Perform an act of kindness. Doing something for someone else can help you feel connected. This could be in the form of volunteering for an organization or something as simple as saying “hello” to someone.

Feeling overwhelmed

If you feel drained when thinking of everything you have to do you may find a tip below helpful.

• Start a gratitude practice. Get a plain ole notebook and write down 3 things you’re grateful for.

• Do something fun! Step away from what you find overwhelming for a moment and have fun. If you’re anything like me, then you have to get out of your head every once in a while.

• Get grounded in the moment. Your body can only ever be in the present moment. Close your eyes and feel the ground your feet are on. Feel your chest and belly move as you breathe. Feel your sitting bones on the chair.

Don’t underestimate small actions. Tiny adjustments to your lifestyle can recharge your battery by taking care of yourself physically and mentally.

What do you do to help you recharge? Share below!