7 Habits That Constantly Drain Your Energy (And How To Fix It)

It can be very draining to constantly try to prove yourself to others, whether you are your spouse, teacher, parent, or boss.

You will invariably be unhappy if you try to make people happy and stay in their good books.  Because their needs and expectations will dictate your actions, not yours.

Although being kind and helpful can be a great way to maintain healthy relationships with others you must not do it to gain approval.

This is a dangerous way to drain your energy and make you neglect yourself. It will also leave you unhappy and chronically stressed.

Learn to identify your limits and communicate them.

Recognize the fact that relationships are built on “give and takes” and be open to saying no when you’re not up for it.

It can be exhausting to constantly criticize and judge yourself. It can lead to a low self-esteem and a feeling unworthiness.

You will feel most unworthy if you feel you don’t measure up.  You will judge yourself harshly, exaggerate your weaknesses, and obsess over your blind spots and flaws.

Let’s face facts: If you don’t see any positive things about yourself, how can you ever feel motivated, happy, and capable?

Self-compassion is a virtue.  You’ll feel happier and more at peace when you treat yourself with love, encouragement, and kindness.

Be proud of your wins, be kind to your losses, and compliment your efforts.

You deserve to be congratulated for giving it a try.

Poison can be more than just something you eat or drink. It can also be an emotion.  Anger and resentment can be among the most dangerous emotions you can have.

Psychologists say they are common examples of high intensity negative emotions which can cause physical, emotional, and mental damage.

These emotions often arise because you are still ‘living the past’, which can be painful and even hurtful. You still hold grudges about those who have offended or hurt your feelings.  You must be able to let go of the past if you want to move on.  It is futile to continue feeling hurt, angry, and resentful over what happened.

As Siddhartha Buddha once said:

Instead, what will liberate and energize you is the ability to let go of the past and free your mind from its poisonous effects.

Start with mindfulness. Be aware of what makes your angry and resentful.

If you feel that a particular past experience is too painful to let go, take some time to reflect and then write down your thoughts and concerns.

People worry when they try to predict the future. They try to predict what might happen and how it might turn out.

Worrying about things you can’t control is a futile exercise.  It will only cause feelings of anxiety, restlessness, distress, and depression.  It’s the exact same as overthinking.

Overthinking is not a way to achieve anything. Overthinking doesn’t lead to a better outcome. It only drains your energy and makes you feel tired.

Focus on what you can control and acknowledge what you cannot control.

You can regain your power to feel the way you want by focusing on what you can control.

How we use social media can impact our moods and energy.  Your newsfeed can either inspire you or make you feel bad.

If you start to feel that your life is less than it really is, and what you see and share on social media is only photos and videos of friends or strangers who seem more successful than you you are in trouble.  This can drain your energy and make you very unhappy with yourself.

There’s too much fakery in social media for you to allow it to dictate how you feel about yourself, and how successful you are in your life.

If used well, social media can have a tremendous positive impact on your life.

Keep your eyes on you and only use social media to help you reach your goals. Social media is not a place to compare yourself to others or feel bad about your life. Instead, use it to inspire and to create meaningful relationships with people.

A good night’s sleep is the best thing for your body and mind.

Your body heals itself during sleep and restores its chemical balance. Your brain also has the time to eliminate toxins and make new connections.  These processes are designed to make you feel more awake and alert upon waking up. To maximize your sleep, you should sleep at least 7 hours.

Most people have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. They have sleep disturbances and sleep deprivation.

If you sleep less than you need, your body is not getting the rest it needs. You are correct! There is no way to save your energy.  It can drain your mental abilities and put your physical health at serious risk.  This can have long-lasting effects. Research has shown that poor sleep is linked to many health problems including weight gain.

To improve the quality of your sleep, you must master your sleep patterns.  This means that you should be consistent in your sleeping habits so that you wake up at the same time each day. You should try to get the same amount of sleep each night.

It is important to be mindful of what you do before you go to bed if you want to improve your sleeping habits. Avoid caffeine before bed, avoid alcohol, and avoid fatty foods that can disrupt your sleep.

Instead, meditate, journal, write, find something to read, and listen to an inspirational audiobook/podcast.

Consuming processed foods can cause temporary insulin and blood sugar spikes. The energy boost is temporary, but quickly follows by a crash. You will feel more tired over the long-term.

You should change the composition of your food if you feel tired or fatigued after eating.

A diet of junk food even though it has calories will not feed your body all the vitamins and nutrients your body needs to function optimally.