How do you manage your personal energy budget ?

Hello Blogger.Friends! Ever have those days when you feel mentally drained? Ever have those days when you feel that you got so much done that you could have kept going on for ever and ever? Ever wish you could manage to have more of the high-energy days than the completely drained ones? You can. The Problem: Very often we let ourselves experience the effects of the ebb and flow of the day without realizing that we can command and protect our mental energy levels. This leaves us feeling powerless and without control. Probably we need to review our Education: When we drive a powerful car we can monitor how much of the fuel we are using up throughout the day. Likewise, when we learn to pay attention to how we use our mental energy we can decide when and how it is to be used. We can also make pit stops to re-fuel. How do you do it? Of course, I thought you'd never ask. :) Here are four tips for refueling your energy: 1. People People with positive energy approach the world with an open heart and a sense of humor. They refuse to be colored by cynicism and bitterness. They strive to see the best in the world around them, revel in the success of others, and diligently pursue their own goals. Becoming a positive person today will help you attract more positive people into your life tomorrow. The more positive people that surround you, the more you’ll feel joy, contentment, and fulfillment in your own life! 2. Food We all need to eat energy-giving meals at regular intervals. Our bodies depend upon our conscious choices to refuel it properly. Bad choices could lead to bad consequences. Think of a car. With no fuel in it, the car would definitely not run. If the wrong kind of fuel were put into the tank, it may still run, but not optimally. In the long run, this abuse to a vehicle will probably cause long-term damage to its system. The same is true for your body. Skipping meals is like not putting fuel into your tank. Doing so often results in lethargy, an inability to concentrate and moodiness. (Not that this Happy Budget Girl would know.) It may also lead a person to go into "starvation mode." In this mode, an individual may want to gorge once eating is resumed and the amount of calories ingested could far exceed healthy amounts. In light of this, eating breakfast, lunch and dinner is crucial. Healthful snacks in between will help to stave off the "starvation mode" factor and an individual may be a greater happy camper all around. Choose foods that are high in vitamins, in antioxidants and in fiber. Great options are fruit, vegetables, nuts, beans and other foods in a more natural state. Eating foods that are more nutrient-rich is like the difference between filling a car with a high-grade fuel as opposed to a low-grade fuel into a tank. Your body is worth it. In addition to fueling your body with the right kind of food, we also want to consider... 3. Rest The average adult needs 7-9 hours of sleep per day. Is that what you're getting? I sometimes get so involved with super important things at night (such as the television) that I don't recognize how late it is. I will often go to bed at around midnight, only to get up at 5am. Sure, five hours of sleep may seem like a lot to some people, but statistics show that people who get less than 7 hours of sleep are at a higher rate for developing a numerous amount of health issues. How do I overcome this? How about an alarm clock? We often set an alarm clock for waking up. Why not set your alarm to remind you to go to bed on time? Then, decide that no matter what television show you are in the middle of, you will absolutely go to bed at that time.Also be sure that your place of slumber is truly comfortable, free from distractions and perfect for your dreamland visit. In addition to getting the proper amount of rest, we may also focus on… 4. Recreation What do you do for fun? Do you call your best friend and talk for hours? Do you go hiking? Do you workout? (Or maybe you love to read really cool blogs about recreation??? ;) While I do a lot of these things, I am particularly a fan of laughing. Numerous studies have shown that laughing is healthy for relieving stress and for overall health. I love to put on a funny chick flick and get lost in the world of laughing and fun. Somehow, the world seems much more beautiful, my challenges seem more approachable and I go tiptoeing through the tulips after the video is done. (Well, we don't really have any tulips in my area, but it sure sounds like fun.) And I propose to do an coaching’s exercise: Make a list of fun things to do and just do it. Don't have time, you say? Schedule it in. When we schedule it in, it becomes a priority in our day. With having fun in life, our energy levels may be replenished. So, find a way to replenish your energy with recreation. Overall, when we find ways to replenish our energy through food, rest and recreation, our pitchers will be filled, making for a greater quality of life. Are you worth it? Yes! You definitely are! And a little of homework: Part 1. Over the next 7 days keep a small notebook with you and list 10 of the things that drain your energy during the day. To identify energy drains simple look at a situation or conversation and ask, ‘has this made my mood higher or lower?’. The lower mood effectors are the energy drains. Typical examples can include: • Focusing on losses in a negative manner without taking positive lessons from them. • Focusing on the negative in situations rather than positively engaging with them. • Talking to people who drain your energy. Part 2. Make sure that you find 10 ways every day to actively refuel your mental energy. Typical examples could be: • Meditate. • Exercise • Have a shower with the intention of cleansing and refreshing your mental self. • Curling up with your favorite book for 20 minutes. • Sit in the sunshine. • Talk to your favorite uplifting person. And Finally ... Learning Taking responsibility for your personal energy is a decision that will impact upon your life in such a way that you will find yourself in a position of awareness and control. Be determined to make the change and with practice, change comes. Train yourself to have an awesome day! So, as I make my exit to go grab a fruit, my Blogger Friend, have a magnificently energetic weekend! Lorena