Getting your oomph back week 7

Last week we touched on getting a better night’s sleep and I wanted to develop further the importance of rest and relaxation to recharge. We only have so much energy and it matters we are aware of how we spend it and also how we top it back up again. Think of energy like money in the bank and our bodies are the bank, if we keep making withdrawals and no deposits well, very soon we will be in overdraft and if that goes on too long the bank manager may want a little chat with us! So to when we keep asking of our body, mind and emotions, if we keep taking energy out to manage these and do not take time to restore the energy then our bodies will start wanting to have a wee word with us, expressed as tired, hard to concentrate, flat and feeling as if we have lost our oomph!

When we think of rest we may think, well get more sleep. However, Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, suggest there are seven distinct types of rest

  • Physical. Which can be sleeping or napping but it can also be e.g. Yoga Giving our minds a rest from overthinking by using a grounding technique or mindfulness practice This may be finding a quiet space away from noise and distractions including unplugging from the phone and other digital devices which can often seem to demand our attention
  • Creative. This may be creating something, it may be just spending time in nature and restoring a sense of awe and wonder
  • Emotional. How often do we suppress our emotions which cause us to feel exhausted. It matters we find ways to be vulnerable when we need to and feel safe to be our authentic self, when we become aware of our emotions, we are better able to find ways to manage them or accept that for a while e.g. we may feel sad which is natural after loss or other upsets in our life. When we accept our emotions, we can find ways to work through them.
  • Social. This includes how we set boundaries and how we recharge by taking some time out. Contrary to opinion, introverts are not necessarily shy, in fact they can appear very extrovert at times, but they need time alone to recharge. Find what works for you and become aware of where your energy is drained and restored.
  • Spiritual. It is understandable that at times we can be introspective, however, depending on what is going on in our lives there is a balance between self-awareness where we seek to understand ourselves better and self-absorption, where we can become so preoccupied with what is going in inside, we forget what is happening elsewhere. Spending time in nature, looking at the stars, prayer, meditation or investing energy in a cause which is kind to ourselves, each other and the planet can help restore our spiritual energy and offer a sense of perspective that can help sustain us, even when life is challenging.

Points for reflection

What do you do currently to restore your energy

  • Physical.
  • Mental.
  • Sensory.
  • Creative.
  • Emotional.
  • Social.
  • Spiritual.

What else could you build into your routine to restore your energy

  • Physical.
  • Mental.
  • Sensory.
  • Creative.
  • Emotional.
  • Social.
  • Spiritual.

Thanks for reading and I hope you are finding these wee reflections helpful. Remember you do matter. Next week we shall explore the impact change can have on our zest for life

Hilda

Ps I often offer ideas on linked in, the link is here https://www.linkedin.com/in/hilda-campbell-0a5557329

    Post Views: 20