I just don’t have the energy for it!
Have you ever caught yourself saying “I just don’t have the energy for it”? And then actually sat and asked yourself what that really means? Our energy is a precious resource that for many of us is a complete mystery. One minute we have it and the next minute we don’t! But where did it come from and where did it go to?
The human is a complex creature which makes understanding our energy not so straightforward. For starters, energy can be explained on many different levels, and it is comprised of so many different components. Energy is defined as “the strength and vitality required for sustained physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual activity”. So with that definition in mind, let’s break it down into its parts.
Physical energy is the energy used to perform physical tasks, such as getting up in the morning, breathing, doing your daily activities and being mobile. It is affected and sustained by our nutrition, fitness levels, sleeping patterns and bodily pain or discomfort.
Mental Energy is the energy used for our brain processes to think, concentrate, memory, problem solve, make decisions and be creative. It is affected and sustained by our sleeping patterns, emotions, levels of motivation and perception of stress.
Emotional Energy is the energy used to express and feel our emotions. It is sustained and affected by our levels of stress, relationships and social interactions, levels of motivation and self – belief. Good sleeping patterns, balanced nutrition and a source of emotional release can assist in balancing our emotional energy and preventing burnout.
Spiritual Energy for some is known as the Chi, the spiritual life force that sustains the body. On a more tangible level this energy is used to connect you to something larger than yourself and deeper within yourself. It is affected and sustained by mindfulness, our control of emotions, and our mental energy and clarity of thought.
Each of these 4 components of energy have an effect on one another and on our overall well-being. This is why it is essential that once we know how our energy works, that we have a “refuel time” on a daily basis to assess our energy levels, and renew them in the most effective way. So next time you hear yourself saying, or thinking : I just don’t have the energy for it, stop, and assess which component of energy is depleted and then ask yourself how you can renew it!