Are We Being Sustainable With Our Energy?

Mindset
Business

Chloe Slade

3 min read
Oct 30, 2019

Sustainable energy.

It seems to be a hot topic of conversation: managing your energy more sustainably, and more specifically within your business.

Essential to avoid burn out.

I totally get it. For so many people, their business is so much of them. I would go as far as to say that it defines many people: their happiness, their version of success, their purpose.

So it is no surprise that it is all-consuming.

But it is not necessarily sustainable, in the energetic sense.

In this post, I want to explore some of the techniques that I use to be sustainable with my energy.

HAVE A POST-WORK ROUTINE

Having a post-work routine can help you detach from the day and transition into 'evening mode'.

I know so many people struggle with this, especially if they work from home.

It can be as simple as mind dumping what is on your mind, reviewing your day for tomorrow and having a walk around the block.

Or you could experiment with your physical setting, lighting candles, dimming the lights and popping on a fresh pot of tea.

We totally get it (and know) that not every evening can look like this, and yes, some days do call for those long nights.

But to be sustainable with your energy, you need a long term solution.

So think about what you need. Think about your current routine and your current struggles with it, and how you can start to form a new one.


SET ASIDE TIME TO WORK ON THE BUSINESS

SO many hamster wheel memes, so little time.

What I am getting at here is that you need to have goals AND make time to work on them.

It is easy to get sucked into the day to day running of the business, and not think beyond that.

But we have got to get back to WHY you started your business and the overall impact you want to have.

Some people set time daily to do this, others allocate certain days, and others choose to do so in batch form once a month.

Decide on what works for you and make time for it. It will help you harness your energy and feel calmer with more direction.

FIND A WAY TO CLOSE THE LOOPS

I think the main things that help me ‘switch off’ is just acceptance of what is going through my head... you have open loops and trying to fight them and shut them down is just taking more energy.

So try to increase the awareness of what your thoughts are telling you (normally ‘to-dos’ and ideas for me).

Sometimes writing everything out and crossing out things you have no control over helps too, this tip offers the satisfaction that you get similar to crossing something off a to-do list.

But yes, long term you need a process that will help you close the loops (discovering that is different for everyone).

And the second thing I always look at is what my physical space looks like. My physical space tends to reflect where my mind is at.

You do not want to resist your thoughts when you struggle to switch off- that is resistance you just want to redirect your focus.

Which leads me to my next point...

MOVE YOUR BODY

And no, I do not mean exercise, although that can come into it if you wish.

I have personally like to clear up my physical space. But the idea is that you move your body and get away from the screen.

What you want to do here is take yourself out of the situation/ your head and disconnect to reconnect.

Go for a walk, tidy up, go and see some friends in real life, not just virtually. Move your body away from the screen.

IT IS ABOUT ACCEPTANCE



You are not going to feel AMAZING 100% of the time. You are not a robot.

Do not feel bad for the days that are not fully productive. Instead, look at them and see what you can change for the future.  

Again, this comes back to a 'mind dump'. Write everything down that is on your mind. Cross anything out that is not in your power or energy to change. Prioritise the things you can change and create an impact on.  


NEXT STEPS



The main takeaway I want you to get from this post is this, make it all part of the process.

-Set up rituals that will help you stay on track.
-Give yourself permission to release what you physically cannot change.
-Allow yourself to 'simply be' when you are not having a super productive day.
-And take some time to bring it back to you, whether that is writing out your focus for the next day or physically getting out of your own head.

You got this.

Chloe Slade
Head of Community

Related Posts

What do your customers want?

Read More

Why you should have a self development plan

Read More

How you have to change your managerial tactics per person

Read More