Energy Account: How to learn to manage your energy properly

During challenging times, we've probably all felt our energy levels drop and drop – until at some point they're almost at zero. We feel tired, exhausted, have trouble concentrating, lose our temper, and are easily irritable. And in times when we're feeling well, we experience the opposite: We feel fit, have the desire and energy to do things, and are relaxed and calm. This is often how we feel after a vacation or when we've done something else good for ourselves that has recharged our batteries.

And it's precisely these batteries that we want to take a closer look at. Physician and mindfulness expert Dr. Amy Saltzman calls this our energy bank on "Psychology Today." We all have one, and just like a checking account, it can sometimes be well-filled and sometimes completely depleted.

Constantly exhausted? Your energy balance is probably in the red

Ask yourself right now: How full is your energy balance right now, on a scale of minus ten to plus ten? If you feel like your energy is currently in the negative range, there are consequences for this too. Not in the form of horrendous overdraft interest, however, but rather in terms of health consequences. If we consistently lack sleep and overexert ourselves for an extended period, our immune system suffers, among other things, and we could experience burnout.

If our energy balance is comfortably positive, we can relax: We have enough energy not only to cope with our daily lives, but also to do things we enjoy or to help others. And we even have a buffer to handle a few stressful days without major consequences. Because they affect us all, no matter how optimally we organize our lives.

To keep your account comfortably and safely in the black, Dr. Amy Saltzman recommends these strategies.

Managing your energy: How to keep your energy balance in the black 1. Pay into your account regularly

To keep our account well-filled, we must make regular deposits into it—just like with our finances . And we do this with things and routines that are good for us. This can be anything and is very individual: Perhaps the best way to recharge your energy account is to regularly talk to people close to you who are good for you. Perhaps you need more time for yourself, which you can spend reading or watching your favorite series. Perhaps daily meditation or regular workouts give you energy.

For most people, it's a combination of all of these things. Listen to yourself, be mindful of yourself, and you'll quickly notice what gives you energy. And if you regularly incorporate at least some of these habits into your life, you'll find it easier to keep your energy levels at a healthy level.

2. Be frugal with withdrawals

We need money to live, so we have to withdraw something from our account every now and then. The same goes for our energy account; here too, we usually have to withdraw something every day. Working costs energy, as does shopping, tidying up, and other chores that are part of our lives. But then there are also expenses that aren't absolutely necessary. We may feel obligated to make them, but they drain our energy that we shouldn't have to spend. For example, meeting up with a friend who only talks about herself and never asks how we're doing. Such energy vampires are poison for our energy levels and cause our account to become unbalanced.

Here, you could keep a kind of energy budget: What takes energy but is necessary? What consumes a lot of energy but gives you little in return? Find a healthy balance between your income and expenses. Just as you can only spend the money you have, you can only give to yourself and others the energy that's currently in your account.

3. Invest in an energy buffer

It's best to save when times are good. This applies to money as well as energy. If you're feeling rested and have enough strength to tackle everyday challenges, but still have energy left, use it to replenish your savings. Do things that are good for you, invest in yourself. Perhaps now is the time to finally take that pottery class you've been lacking the time and energy for. Or you can meet up with friends more often or take up a new sport.

And what do I do if my energy account is empty?

But then there are also phases in life when we realize: Nothing's working anymore. Our reserves are depleted, our bank accounts are empty, we don't even have enough energy for everyday necessities like working, cleaning, or even taking a shower. In this case, as in financially difficult times, a loan could help. More precisely: you borrow time.

You can get this in the form of help, for example, by having someone take on a task for you so you can take a break. Or perhaps you can take some time off, go on vacation, go to a health resort, or do something else that helps you replenish your account in the short term. Of course, that's not easily possible for everyone in every life situation. But maybe it's just a day when you can just take care of yourself. The important thing is to balance your energy levels in the short term so that you can start to replenish your account. So that in the long term, you can then make sure you don't slip into overdraft in the first place.

Brigitte

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