Whenever I ask people how they are feeling, about 90% of the time the response I get is, “I’m tired.”
Are you tired of being tired?
Everyone feels tired at some point in their lives — whether it's due to a late night out, taking care of a newborn, or putting in some extra hours at work. These are valid and clear reasons to feel tired. But what about the rest of the time? If you’re tired of being tired, it’s time to tighten up those leaks so you’re not leaking energy, and have a lot more energy to invest in yourself.
Let’s break down the obvious causes of feeling low on energy first.
A lack of sleep may be an obvious reason for feeling tired, yet many adults are consistently not getting enough of it. Getting under the recommended hours of sleep (7 hours) each night is not only associated with fatigue, impaired performance and a greater risk of accidents but it also has adverse health outcomes.
My bedtime routine includes, phasing out artificial lighting at least an hour before my bed time and that means NO TV, tablet, computer or phone. The light these devices emit can really wreck havoc on your melatonin production and mess up your natural rhythm. Better to replace electronics with a relaxing bath, gentle yoga, meditation, and/or sex. TV’s should have no place in the bedroom.
Limit the caffeine. I love me a good cup of coffee but I make sure to limit my caffeine consumption by the afternoon since my body needs the time to rid itself of caffeine’s stimulating effects. Same thing with alcohol – which can lead to fragmented sleep.
Exercise. Make sure to move around each day. When you exercise in the morning you’ll feel more energy all day long! Making exercise part of your regular routine can contribute to healthier, more restful sleep and may help improve sleep issues such as insomnia.
If lifestyle changes do not improve your sleep, there may be an underlying medical issue; it is worth seeing a medical professional to find out the cause of fatigue.
Now that we’ve explored the physical manifestations of being tired, let’s go a layer deeper.
IT’S TIME TO CALL THE ENERGY PLUMBER BECAUSE WE UNKNOWINGLY LEAK ENERGY EVERY DAY IN LESS OBVIOUS WAYS.
It’s amazing how people pride themselves with being so “busy”. The most common energy leak in society today is overdoing and having too much on our plates, leaving little time for relaxation and play. These are not only necessary for health; they create a body-mind container to hold our vital energy. By contrast, an exhausted body-mind is riddled with 'holes' like Swiss cheese, allowing the energy to drain away. Your conditioned mind might be convinced that you can't afford to do less; but really, you can't afford not to.
The second energy leak is of course intimately related to the first. When we're overdoing, we develop dis-ease quite easily. When illness has set in, it draws our attention and leaks our Ki (vitality or life-force). Your body is an intelligent being. Often (not always), illness or dis-ease is a warning sign that your higher self is trying to tell you something.
What stories do you buy into? It is very common to create an energy leak as soon as you lose contact with your essence-nature and are pulled away from your true self by manufactured dramas and false story-lines that cause unnecessary emotional reactivity. When you pause and allow yourself to just sit with your feelings, neither owning nor disowning them, but just being with them as a form of pure energy- that's the opposite of emotional reactivity. Just be with awareness and present as each situation unfolds before you.
We also lose precious energy by spending our time dwelling upon the past or anticipating some future event. The moment we go backwards or forwards in our minds, we immediately disconnect from the present moment and all that is available to us in the Now. Stay in the present, there is no better place to be. You can never have the same moment twice.
WHERE YOUR MIND GOES, YOUR ENERGY FOLLOWS SO ONLY SEND IT WHERE YOU WANT IT TO GROW IN YOUR LIFE.
Another energy vampire are boundaries, or lack thereof. Communicating what you want and what you're okay with, is crucial to create the firm foundation for relationships that aren't energy leaks. Always ask yourself, “is this a responsible use of my energy?” Make this a filter for yourself because people are always going to want something from you. If you find that a relationship is still leaving you feeling drained, sometimes the only solution is to let go and walk away.
You are the CEO of your life - own that title and notice how your energy changes!
If you still feel stuck, you can always call the “energy plumber” aka me, to help patch up those leaks.
Dorothy Knight is a Reiki Master Teacher, Yoga Instructor and wholehearted writer. She currently practices and teaches Reiki in Mississauga. She is a certified Reiki Master in the Usui Method of Natural Healing. Her passion is to empower people to reach their greatest potential of health and wellness through Reiki healing methods. Healing starts from within.
You can reach Dorothy at dorothyknightreiki.ca
You can follow Dorothy on Instagram @dorothy_knight_reiki
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