ENERGY
When your get-up-and-go has got up and gone, lean in and listen to your body and mind, writes Stephanie Fitzgerald
We all have those days when we’re out of energy. The to-do list is never ending but, seemingly, our motivation is not.
There’s plenty we want to do, yet somehow we can’t bring ourselves to get started. Even plans that seem fun can become a bit of a bind. We’re not depressed, or stressed, we’re just out of oomph, and unsure how to re-start the engines.
There can be any number of reasons why we lose our pizazz and, although frustrating, we need to recognise that this enforced slow-down is actually a protective mechanism of the brain. Our bodies and minds are intensely clever and attuned to our needs, even when we aren’t. When we experience a challenge, but push on through it, our brains deliberately reduce our motivation to continue, in order to force us to confront what is happening.
This cause could be a physical issue that needs addressing – fatigue from a virus that we worked through instead of resting; a vitamin deficiency caused by a diet high in convenience but low in nutrition; or just a plain old lack of sleep. When we feel unable to jump into action, our body is saying ‘Pay attention to me; I need something!’
But it doesn’t just apply to physical health. Our brains are designed to keep us safe at all times and, as such, are alert to threat. If we’ve been pushing on with a task or a situation whilst ignoring a gut feeling that something isn’t quite right, then our brains will reduce our zeal and hold off committing to action until we figure out what’s wrong. When we’re struggling to get going, it could be that our brain knows something is off.
Sarah Bostock, an experienced personal and professional coach, tells me that when something doesn’t align with our values, we quickly lose vitality: ‘Purpose and motivation connect to our ideals. If we can see the reason for our actions and how it aligns with our needs, then that brings with it a sense of drive. Our oomph is connected to how visible that sense of purpose is to us. When we dip in energy, it’s often because we don’t feel connected to the things that matter most to us.’
This is why, whilst it can be tempting to try to remedy our mood with action, it won’t help us feel better. In fact, Bostock warns that ignoring how we feel, and driving ourselves forwards, may make us feel worse. We need to understand what has led to our lack of vivacity in order to get it back.
‘It’s helpful to sit with that uncomfortable feelin
