What to Do When You’re Feeling Drained

Lately I’ve noticed a lot of people are feeling drained by life — the challenges they’re facing, their workloads, the anxiety of the world around them, and more. soon I’ll write a longer guide to how to get yourself to a place of renewed resilience … but for today, I’d like to share how I practice when I just don’t feel much of a capacity to do anything.

1. First, I notice that I just don’t have it today. I’d like to crush life and get a ton of crap done, but today isn’t the day. I’m drained, depleted.

2. Then I ask: “What do I need to do to take care of myself?” That might mean taking a nap, taking a day off, doing a lighter workload, skipping my workout for today, meditating, going for a walk, taking a bath, drinking a cup of tea, talking to a friend, listening to music, watching some trashy television, eating a little dark chocolate, giving myself love.

3. I like to empower the time off. That means, instead of feeling bad about it — I see it as a way to love myself and get myself back where I’d like to be.

I savor the rest time. Create the space, and experience it as delicious. Bask in the spaciousness, in the love.

4. Next, I ask: “Is there anything I’d like to do with my limited capacity?” If I’m drained, I might still have it in me to do a little. If I really want to exercise, I can go for a short walk, or an easy swim. If I have work that needs doing, maybe I can just do a little.

I can do a little, and do it slowly and easily. I don’t hve to push myself hard. I can breathe, and bring a sense of relaxation and ease to everything I do. Lower my expectations of myself, let go of whatever I think I should be doing, let go of any pressure. And just do things on Easy Mode.

5. Finally I ask: “What do I need to do to get myself to where I’d like to be?” Maybe it will take a day, a week, a month, or more, depending on what you’re facing in life. For me, it usually only takes a day or two, but I know people facing huge health challenges, and how long it’ll take them is completely unknown, except that we know they’re in for the long haul.

However long it takes, the question might still be worth asking — what do I need to do to get myself to where I’d like to be? Maybe I need to start sleeping better, start exercising more, start putting more whole foods high in fiber into my body. Maybe meditate, go for reflective walks, journal, get therapy or a coach, join a treatment program, go to a doctor.

Then I take the smallest step in that direction. With low energy, I can’t get it all done … but I can start. Whatever my capacity is to take a step in that direction is perfect — I don’t need to have a huge capacity to move towards self-care, self-love, and nourishment. I use whatever capacity is available to me.

Sometimes we just don’t have much. This might just be the perfect place to be today. That doesn’t mean we’ll be there tomorrow. But in this place of drained energy, can we still find beauty?

Talk Less to Listen More to Learn More

Photo by August de Richelieu from Pexels

Think carefully before you speak.

‘The older I grow the more I listen to people who don’t talk much.’

German G Glien

Your words can hurt other people’s feelings. They may influence others, encourage them to do something they wouldn’t normally do. Don’t just throw around whatever you have in your mind. Because words have power to change people’s lives. So, use your words responsibly.

Listen more before jumping to conclusions. Consider all possible arguments, both for and against, no matter if you like those arguments or not at the very beginning. Look at the bigger picture, analyze every single piece of information, take your time to come up with personal judgments. Don’t act on impulse. Slow down.

Limit yourself to what’s important. Speak when necessary. 

There is so much noise in the current world already. Focus on what you’re trying to communicate, and find balance. If you narrow your speech down to what you’re really trying to say, people will listen. If you speak too much, they’ll fall asleep.

Get to know others better. You’ll never learn about other people, if you don’t let them talk, introduce themselves, share their successes and failures.

Photo by Startup Stock Photos from Pexels

Every person has its own unique life story. We all have something to say, no matter how important or trivial our speech is going to be. The question is, how much you’re willing to listen to get to know other people.

When you speak less, you do more. Actions speak louder than words. Some people tend to show off how many great products they bought, or where they spent their last summer holiday.

But, shouldn’t we ask, if they created something on their own, or they just bought souvenirs manufactured by others? Because creating has bigger value – it helps us to grow, discover new stuff, fail, learn from own mistakes.

For those of you who don’t like talking, try writing to express yourself. Maybe, some of you feel like nobody understands you, or you’re just being misunderstood. But, quiet people usually tend to observing others, analyze different situations, judge the world.

And then, they prefer to write because it’s easier for them to show who they really are. 

 Source Link: http://www.lifetobe.net/2019/12/15/talk-less-to-listen-more-to-learn-more/