What Gives You Energy?

We often enter a new year feeling refreshed and re-energized, ready to tackle new challenges, start something special, create and experience new things. We have momentum surrounding these things which could fall under professional, personal, even emotional or spiritual buckets. That momentum can often fade as the weeks start flying by once again, holidays have passed, our extra time a fleeting memory and we’re back in the grind of our daily life, not finding enough time to do what we truly enjoy and what makes us feel good.

Some questions that came up for me recently as we start this new year and what I asked some of my clients is this: what gives you energy and what drains it? what do you enjoy doing?

It’s hard to continue down another path, another year of life doing things that drain the sh#t out of us. It’s time to consider doing things that bring you joy, that’s fun, that gives you the energy to actually live life a bit happier, feeling more fulfilled. Of course there are activities and responsibilities you must do–there’s no question about that–but making time to supplement your life with the things that you truly enjoy makes living that life all the better.

The other consideration is reflecting on what those “things” are for yourself - not your family, your partner, your kids, not your friends, not your team or boss. Sure, if it includes them and they are activities that also bring you energy and joy, that’s a win! But if they’re not, it’s ok to be a bit selfish and do something that’s just for YOU, that makes YOU light up.

If you’re not doing things to fill your soul, it can be hard to truly fill others’ cups. Doing too much for others but ignoring yourself can be a recipe for disaster and lead to resentment and a feeling of lack.

I’ll leave you with this thought and challenge: take a few moments to think about (or even write down) what gives you energy and gets you excited and what ways you can bring some of that into your life in 2023.