I’m a big believer that before you can even think about doing anything, you have to have enough energy to do it. Seems kinda obvious, I know, but I have never been a high-octane person and it has been essential for me to understand this. A few years ago, I would berate myself for not doing my list of chores, regular exercise, entertaining, whatever, when actually, I didn’t have it in me to do those things. My energy levels were horribly low and what I should have been doing was looking after myself instead of berating.

So, here are some ideas if you are feeling a bit ‘low voltage’…

1. Look at your diet. Groan! I know – who wants to hear that?! But I’ma telling you, it makes a BIG difference. The things I have found that make me ridiculously tired? Sugar and gluten. And not just the day I have them, but for a day or two afterwards, a dragging, exhausted tiredness. My life has changed since I gave them up. Now I know, you probably aren’t listening, but if you suffer from extreme fatigue, think about what you would gain, not just what you would have to give up, if those things affect you too. It’s worth looking in to.
2. Emotional baggage. If there is stuff from your past that you have crushed down into a dark spot somewhere inside you, well, it might be holding you back. It takes energy to keep things stuffed down, even if you think you’re not thinking about it. And that’s energy you need for living! Now there isn’t a quick fix, let’s face it, sometimes unpacking that can be a lot of work, but you gotta do it. You have to be free from it to be the best you.
3. Get enough sleep. Ground breaking, I know, but wow, since having babies I can’t tell you how debilitating a lack of sleep is. And you don’t realise how much you are incapacitated until you get more. So look at your sleep patterns, do you really need to be scrolling your feed for that last 30 minutes in bed, or could you add that to your zzz tally?
4. Vitamin and mineral levels. Get them checked via a blood test with your doctor. Low iron, low vitamin D, low anything can mean the balance of your body is out and one consequence can be fatigue, making general living that much harder.
5. Drink enough water. Athletes work hard to stay hydrated because they know even slight dehydration can impact on their performance. We aren’t running marathons, but that doesn’t mean our performance (in life!) isn’t affected in the exact same way. They say 6-8 glasses, or 1.5-2 litres a day. See what you can do. (Just don’t drink it all at once!)
6. Clutter and unfinished things. Having stuff peeking at you from all corners of your home, and unfinished projects lurking and waiting to remind you how hopeless you are, is draining! Again, there is no quick fix, but keep it in mind. Start looking at what you really need in your space and liberate the rest. Gather up the unfinished and decide if you really want to complete them, or if it’s time to let go. Finished or not, they are not a statement of your personal worth.

Energy is so crucial to everything worthwhile: achievement, love, happiness. Do whatever you can to nurture yours.
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