How To Regain Energy

This is for all the introverts, the neurodivergent's, the empaths, the overworked (yes, that includes parents) and those feeling burned out, because a lot is demanded of you or you're perhaps feeling overwhelmed in a world where you are expected to constantly be present, to interact and to 'conform' or people please.

Stay Authentic

Believe me, when I say it's draining, pretending to be someone else just to please those around you, for whatever reason, simply will not make you happy in the long run and let's be honest, you weren't put on this earth to please everyone else but yourself.

I can promise you, that you will form the best connections, meet the right people and attract people who will truly respect you for who you authentically are, if you're able to stay true to who you are.

One thing that can be hard is always smiling, always laughing at other's jokes, people pleasing, and always doing things other people want to do, but be honest with yourself. Yes, it can be hard saying no to people, because as a people-pleaser, you feel guilty for doing what you want to do, however in times like this, you should remind yourself that it's perfectly okay to do what you want to do, you're entitled to that.

People Pleasing Has To Go

Most of us are happy in a place of compromise, where we find a happy medium. Do you want to go to a different restaurant this week, than the one you usually go to with your husband? Maybe this week you go to a restaurant of your choosing and next week, the one he wants to go to.

Does your wife want to watch The Wendy Williams Show and you want to watch Premiere League football? Maybe tonight you watch Wendy Williams and tomorrow she will watch the footie with you.

This is not only a way of showing respect for someone else, this is a way of setting boundaries and finding a happy medium, it means balance.

Do you not want to talk? Simply say "sorry, I'm not upset or anything, I simply don't want to talk right now, I'm trying to conserve my energy." If the person bothering you doesn't understand, simply ignore them and put earphones in and they'll get the message, or walk away.

You do not owe anyone, anything. It is your right to have peace and quiet.

I know we all long for a sense of belonging, so we copy others to fit in, we mostly do this because we're already struggling with our sense of identity, an issue we all face at some point in our lives, and sometimes you are 'one of the clique', but other times, you don't fit in anywhere, you're weren't part of any 'group' in school and as an adult, it's very likely you still do not "fit in".

Want to know why? You're not supposed to.

Nine times out of 10, it's because you're meant to lead, you're meant to do something in life where you're not supposed to fit in, to not fit in is a strength in many ways, it's common that you'll hear things like "there are not many people like you" or "none of my friends are like this" or "I like you, you're different".

Either you make people uncomfortable because you are 100% your genuine self and they don't know how to do that or because guess what? You've met your match, you've met someone who sees you and appreciates you.

I know these words will reach the right pair of eyes and to you I say, do not lose energy over things that will not matter in a number of years, most people are temporary, so do not lose yourself in pretending to be who you're not, just to please someone who may not even stick around.

Digital Detox

The world of social media can be incredibly draining, if you're an internet personality, it's even worse sometimes.

If you don't want to reply to texts, if you don't want to answer that phone call, you don't have to. It can be very empowering to simply turn your phone off and tune out from the digital world.

Sometimes certain expectations are set, men are expected to have the most beautiful woman on their arm like an accessory, to have an excess of money at their fingertips, to live in a massive flat or house and women are expected to be happy, responsive and compliant all the time, even when they don't feel like it.

You should share your personal life online otherwise you're a catfish, but don't post too much about your life otherwise it looks like you're attention-seeking or obsessive.

It's a constant balancing act, how we present ourselves on social media and we're bombarded with images of how we're "supposed to" look. That's not gonna make you truly happy, you'll be chasing a rainbow of wanting something, getting what you want and then not wanting it anymore and chasing the next thing and the next, just look at all the horrendous plastic surgery that has been allowed to happen, to people who clearly have deeper-seated issues.

But it's okay because it helps the surgeons pay their bills right? No.

Every social media app is constantly begging for our attention, the rise of Snapchat saw facebook and instagram also introducing 'stories'. Instagram reels prompted snapchat to promote Snapchat 'series' and then facebook added a 'watch' page which functions similarly to Tik Tok and Tik Tok prompted Facebook to start doing

We get hooked on these apps due to the entertaining content and you'll start scrolling at 11, but by 3 AM, you glance at the clock and cannot believe how much time you've wasted, because that's how good these apps are at zapping our time and eventually, our energy.

How many of us wake up tired because we've been scrolling through social media into the late hours of the night? Exactly.

Your Diet

Probably the most likely cause of your low energy. In some cases, you feel physically tired but your brain will always catch up with you and mental exhaustion is the hardest to get rid of.

Try eating a high-iron, high-protein diet. The two essential components that stop people from feeling mentally energetic, are low potassium levels could also be a contributing factor to burnout or mental fatigue.

Some people swear by adding sea moss or shilajit to their diets to help boost energy levels and reduce mental exhaustion, be open to trying new things and see what works for you, because if you're desperate for results, you'll try everything and if nothing works, consider visiting your GP and perhaps getting tested for anemia or anything other health condition that may cause anemia.

Get Enough Sleep

Never underestimate the power of a sufficient amount of sleep. And don't allow other people to make you feel bad if you need more or less sleep than the average person. Sometimes we are either night owls, or morning people, get to know yourself and what your natural circadian rhythm is like.

If your body doesn't feel tired until 2 AM and you feel well rested by 11 AM, then nothing is wrong with that, do what makes you feel replenished, this will lessen your mental exhaustion.

Having Different Strengths

Sometimes we have strengths that others don't, like working better alone, being an independent learner, and sometimes you just thrive in an environment where you are alone for long periods of time, and being around other people for too long is draining. This is especially the case when you are an introvert.

Mental Health Issues

Mental health issues complicate things. If you're on the autism spectrum, if you suffer with ADHD, if you have anxiety, depression or even if you regularly take medication, you will burnout at a rate 10 times faster than your peers.

With ADHD for example, there are times where you may be masking to please others, this can mentally exhaust you fast, also the simple act of waking up and getting ready to go to work can be just as exhausting for you as a regular person doing a 16 hour shift.

Autism burnout is also a thing. In a world where you have to 'conform' to your peers of family's liking, temporarily, especially as a child.

Mental health problems like anxiety and depression are extremely mentally exhausting, low mood and a brain that seems impossible to turn off, is the perfect recipe for mental exhaustion.

I'd highly recommend guided meditation, it removes the pressure of feeling like you have to completely empty your mind and be absent of all thought, because in a guided meditation, you are often given examples of relaxing scenarios to think of, and if you're a chronic overthinker, this will come easy to you and in time, you'll be able to switch off easier and relieve yourself of that nagging mental tiredness.

Thanks for reading if you've made it this far!