The Art of Energy Management in Our Inner Systems
Posted on January 16, 2025 by Anna Milaeva, One of Thousands of Leadership Coaches on Noomii.
Energy is at the heart of everything we do, and understanding how to manage it is essential for living a more balanced and fulfilling life.
This idea isn’t just about metaphysical or spiritual concepts – it’s a practical reality that impacts us daily. If you really think about it, our lives are fundamentally about energy management.
Our thoughts, emotions, physical actions, and even our stress levels all require energy, and when our system is out of balance, we end up burning more than we need to.
The Nature of Energy and How We Spend It
Energy management isn’t some esoteric concept.
It’s incredibly practical and has been understood in ancient systems of thought across various cultures for centuries. Whether it’s through breathwork, meditation, or physical practices like yoga or Tai Chi, humans have always sought ways to preserve, restore, and manage their vital energy.
Think about it: our minds and bodies are constantly working, and they are designed to regulate energy efficiently. However, when things get out of balance, we find ourselves constantly burning extra energy. Stress, overthinking, and unresolved emotional issues can all deplete our energy levels.
Systems that are not in balance consume more energy.
This applies to the human body just as it applies to any other system.
In Internal Family Systems (IFS) work, we see this clearly when parts of us are stuck in roles that no longer serve us or when they are carrying burdens from the past.
These parts may be overworking – constantly on guard, overly reactive, or trying to resolve problems that belong to the past (refer back to the previous article on how our parts can become trapped solving past issues). This hypervigilance consumes an extraordinary amount of energy, leaving us feeling drained, exhausted, and stuck.
The Liberation of Energy Through Parts Work
Energy gets liberated when our parts begin to trust us and realize they no longer need to carry the weight of past traumas or fears. In IFS, we work to allow parts to release their burdens, changing their roles in ways that free up vital energy.
For example, if a part is over-functioning by constantly being on guard, it consumes far more energy than a balanced system would. As these parts release their old roles and burdens, we feel more spaciousness in our minds and bodies, allowing for more freedom and flow in life.
This isn’t just about emotional well-being. It’s also about physical energy.
When we’re stuck in patterns of overwork, self-criticism, or reactivity, our nervous system is constantly in fight-or-flight mode. This state, which might be necessary for survival at times, becomes the default, leaving us depleted. Releasing those survival-driven patterns through parts work literally frees up energy in our bodies. Our nervous system can relax, and we find we have more capacity for creativity, presence, and productivity.
Ancient Wisdom and Practical Spirituality
Energy management is an age-old practice, though we may not always recognize it as such. In ancient traditions, practices like meditation, breath control (pranayama in yoga), and movement were all designed to help manage and conserve their energy.
In these systems, the focus was on creating balance, aligning the mind, body, and spirit to preserve vital energy, also known as qi in Chinese medicine or prana in Indian traditions.
These ancient practices weren’t about mystical experiences alone – they were about practical spirituality. Managing energy effectively was the foundation for living a good, balanced life, and the same principles apply today. Whether we are meditating to get some clarity, practicing mindfulness to stay more present, or engaging in yoga to strenghten our bodies, these are all ways of managing energy.
Energy and Leadership: Managing Energy in Workplaces
This principle of energy management also applies to work and leadership.
Leaders who are stressed and overworked, carrying burdens of shame or fear, often pass that energy onto their teams. This creates a toxic work environment where everyone is constantly burning extra energy to cope with stress, unsustainable deadlines, and interpersonal conflict.
On the other hand, when leaders are grounded, calm, and centered in their own energy (have access to their Self), they create space for their teams to thrive. This is why energy management is key in leadership development, just as it is in personal development. By creating environments that promote energy balance – whether through mindful leadership practices, supportive environments, or conscious collaboration – leaders can create workplaces where people are more energized, creative, and engaged.
How to Manage Energy Every Day
The everyday practice of managing energy comes down to being aware of how we use it and where it’s going. Here are a few simple ways to manage your energy better:
Take Breaks: Regularly step away from tasks and check in with how you’re feeling. Are you draining yourself unnecessarily by overthinking or stressing about things that aren’t urgent?
Practice: Whether it’s breathwork, meditation, or simple mindfulness, grounding yourself in the present moment can help you conserve energy and stay focused on what really matters.
Focus on Balance: Focus on finding balance and knowing when to rest, recharge, and take care of yourself so that your energy is used efficiently.
Remember, energy management is a responsibility we carry not only for ourselves but also for everyone we interact with – our families, friends, coworkers, and communities.
By learning to manage our energy better, we can create more harmony in our own lives and extend that outward to the world around us.
In gratitude,
Anna Milaeva
Transformational IFS Coach @ www.annamilaeva.com & Co-founder @ www.fino.website – Incubator for Self-leadership
