4 Ways to Protect Your Emotional Energy

Posted on May 10, 2021 by Deborah Lounsberry, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.

I don’t know if you’re anything like me, but at times there are things I want to do, but I just can’t seem to muster the motivation or energy to do it.
I’ve written about motivation and procrastination many times and I’ve dedicated a whole segment to it in my workshops, but this is different.
This is wanting to do something, having the time to do it, but just not able to get into the right head space for it.
Do you know what I mean? Can you relate?
Not long ago, when in this predicament, I decided to isolate myself in my bedroom (it’s my haven, my safe thinking space), and get to the root of the problem.
When we procrastinate, it’s usually for one of four reasons.
1. We don’t like the task at hand,
2. We don’t have all the resources or information needed,
3. We don’t know how, or
4. We’re afraid we’ll fail.
But when I was in this predicament, none of these applied.
It was a task I definitely wanted to do, I had everything I needed, I knew how, and I knew I could do it as I had many times before.
So, what was the problem?
I sat curled up on my bed with my blanket wrapped around me, and gave myself hell. Why couldn’t I just do it? What was wrong with me?? I needed to get this done, I wanted to get this done, but I just couldn’t muster the motivation or energy to do it.
And then it dawned on me.
Energy. Not physical energy, but emotional energy.
I didn’t have the emotional energy.
As a highly sensitive person, and one who nourishes oneself by helping others, there are often times when my emotional energy just runs out.
Plus, as many of you will relate to, when you have loved ones going through crises, a lot of your emotional energy goes to support them.
Add to that any personal challenges, and well, there goes pretty much the last drop of emotional energy.
In the course of my work, I try to get to the root of feelings, the reason for them. Only then, can I either address the problem or change my thinking about it.
And here was the root of my problem. It wasn’t about not having the motivation to do what needed to be done. I wasn’t procrastinating.
I simply didn’t have the emotional energy.
So how do I fix that?
I sat with this, and asked myself – my body and my mind – what did I need? How could I get the emotional energy I needed?
This is what I discovered.
1. Let go emotionally of what is causing me stress. Just let go. If it’s something I can’t control at this time, let go of trying to, and let it run it’s course on its own, for now or until there’s a time I can have control of it.
2. Mindfully surround myself with things and activities that make me feel good. Consciously boost my mental energy with things that nourish my soul, thus boosting my emotional energy.
3. Get back to basics and know exactly what I need and want in my life. Remember that all the challenges I’m facing right now are building blocks and not a permanent state in my life. I can learn, and overcome them on my way to creating my best life.
4. Reach out to those in my life who really get me, and just by being who they are, they boost my emotional energy, and not drain it.
By doing these four things, my emotional energy is replenished.
If you find yourself struggling with mustering the motivation you need, for something you actually want to do, try this and see how it helps.