Last Updated on March 15, 2020 by admin

Motivation Fails and Energy Vampires

Where does motivation go to die? How do our big plans turn into Big Macs?

With everything at stake—our health, the health of our family, our energy, and joy—why do we keep coming up short?

The truth is, most of us are operating in complete survival mode every. single. day.

We are racing the clock from the time the alarm goes off before the sun is even up until we collapse in front of the TV at night, brain dead and craving at least one hour of mindless “me-time” before we have to do it all again tomorrow.

There comes a point in our journey where we know what to do to have healthier lives; we just can’t muster the energy to execute it. In this post, I’m going to be exploring some common energy vampires that might be derailing your good intentions.

 

Your Smartphone

It might be hard to remember, ten or twelve years ago, when you would take a walk or even move to another room in the house without your phone being in your pocket. You took baths and sometimes even naps without that little shackle propped up next to your head.

The smartphone has dramatically changed the way we do life. Personally, this little device is my alarm clock, my morning news, my podcast on the way to work, the GPS, recipe keeper, my entertainment, music, and social outlet. It’s how I check my bank balance, my emails, and even my credit score. I get alerts from my kids’ school and doctor appointments via text, and I feel comfort knowing that their teachers or nurse can reach me in seconds at any time. When I’m doing mundane activities like cooking or driving, I can listen to an interesting show on my headset to help pass the time.

However, while the enhancements to our life from the smartphone are enticing, the drawbacks are deadly to our energy. We are connected at all times to all things and people, good and bad. Whereas work used to end at 5pm, now we are returning texts, calls, and emails all the way up until bedtime. There is the expectation from work, family, and friends that we are always “on” and “on-call.”

Furthermore, our phones have a very addictive quality. They give us constant stimulation and instant gratification. We are always “checking”—checking email, social media, and our accounts, and our moods can be deeply affected in a moment! Have you ever noticed yourself reaching for your phone to “check” within seconds of your companion leaving a room or during moments of brief waiting? It’s as if we cannot be alone with our thoughts for 30 seconds!  We never allow our brains to just be at rest or daydream, and that is a detriment to our well-being. In fact,  science shows a positive correlation between mind wandering and creativity, intelligence, and executive function.

We should also consider that our smartphones emit electromagnetic frequencies (EMFs) that many people are sensitive to, and they may never make the connection that it is actually their phones or other wifi devices zapping their energy and causing their brain fog.

Consider buying an old fashioned alarm clock or a home phone so you don’t have to sleep with this EMF emitting device next to your head.

If you can find a way to detach from your phone as often as possible, your energy will improve!  Try setting some house rules about when the phones will be up on the shelf and out of sight. Allow yourself to reconnect with life-giving sources like bonding with family or reading scripture, meditating, or just practicing silence.

Complaining

When we focus on the negative aspects of a situation, we are depleting valuable energy that will negatively impact our mood and and overall vibration.  After “venting,” you may notice that you feel even more angry, wound up, and even outright depressed than before.

But what about all that advice about not bottling up our emotions?

While having a healthy outlet to blow off steam can be a good thing and even a way to reflect on experiences and grow from them, we need to be mindful of the way we approach it.

Find a friend who you can laugh with about your troubles—someone that will help to bring levity to the situation. According to the Mayo Clinic, laughter has a wide range of health benefits. It increases endorphins, stimulates multiple organs, relieve pain, and soothes tension. In the long term, it can even improve your immune system! 

Also, consider waiting to vent until the emotional peak of the experience has settled down, and you are able to speak on the negative situation more calmly without getting angry or overly upset.  You may find that after a couple of days, you don’t have the same emotional response at all and the initial negative situation loses power over you.

Worrying       

We waste so much energy on useless worrying.  However, sometimes, a little worry is necessary to incite a needed change. How can you tell the difference?

I use the expression, “stick a pin in it.” Imagine your problem being written on a post-it note. Imagine sticking a pin through the middle of it and pinning it onto a bulletin board with the intent to come back and worry about it later.  If the problem is still worthy of your attention in a few days, take the time you need then “unpin it” to reflect and problem solve.  At this later time, you won’t be making such an emotional decision or feeling such a strong reaction.

Negative people and situations   

There is nothing more taxing to your energy than drama.  Avoid it at all costs.  If you have a friend or family member who makes you feel depleted after speaking with him/her, try to steer the conversations to be more positive or even superficial, especially when you just don’t have the energy to give.

If social media has you feeling anxious or annoyed, deactivate it for a while and notice the difference in your energy level. Or try unfollowing certain people or organizations. Consider turning off the news who sensationalizes everything for maximum drama and ratings, and your energy will thank you.

Work

Universally, work is a common complaint and a necessary evil.  Most people have to work for their means to live. Without a doubt, work can be very demanding and stressful, and stress is an energy killer. While you may not be able to simply up and quit your stressful job without creating exponentially more financial stress, you ultimately get to choose your career. Don’t settle for working in a toxic environment! Seek out employment where the employees feel valued and appreciated and where there is laughter and fun. Choose a career field that lights you up and makes you intrinsically motivated to do a great job. You will feel so much more energized when you look forward to your job as opposed to dreading it.

Diet      

Do you feel like you need a nap after every meal?  Pay attention to the pattern of how you feel when you eat certain types of foods.  Personally, I absolutely crash on carbs. I’ve learned that eating carb-heavy foods will tank my productivity every time without fail.

Are you eating a lot of processed foods or sugar?  Are you having too much caffeine? Sugar and caffeine are notorious for getting you high and then body-slamming you with an energy crash. Processed carbohydrates give a fast blood sugar and insulin spike but leave you with a crash. Not to mention they don’t satiate hunger for as long as slower burning fuels like protein or complex carbs. Try starting your morning with eggs, avocado, nuts, greek yogurt, or a good quality oatmeal with fruit.  This article from Healthline offers many food options to maximize energy.   

Dehydration 

Don’t forget to drink a nice cool glass of water the next time you are feeling lethargic with lots of day light ahead of you. It is estimated that 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated, and this greatly impacts physical and mental performance.  Keep a glass of water by your bed and drink a full glass first thing in the morning.  Also, try keeping a water bottle with you throughout the day.

 

Sleep deprivation

Without a full, uninterrupted night of sleep, we simply cannot function at our best and research shows that we will be more likely to make poor health choices for the rest of the day. Simply put, sleep (or lack thereof) is one of the biggest factors in our energy, motivation, mental function, mood, and overall health outcomes.

Lack of exercise 

This is a tough paradox: We have to exercise to have energy, but we have to have energy to exercise.

If you find that you can’t muster the strength to do one physical activity, then please prayerfully consider those previously mentioned energy vampires and start making some significant changes.

Getting your body in motion will increase adrenaline, endorphins, and serotonin to positively impact your energy! 

If even the thought of trying to fit exercise into your routine sounds daunting and exhausting, try a few of these:

Hacks

*Wear tennis shoes and park as far from the building as you can and powerwalk everywhere to get your heart rate up.  Cardiovascular exercise is the best for stimulating those endorphins and kicking your energy into gear.

*Offer to run errands around the office and smile!!  Be the positive energy force that your whole office craves!

*Vacuum your home while listening to uplifting music, and put all your energy into it!

*Give the kids 20 minutes of high energy play- wrestle, run a lap together, walk the dogs, explore the woods, or sing karaoke and dance.

*Take a vitamin D supplement and also prioritize getting some natural sunlight each day.

*Say “Yes” to opportunities however they present themselves. This will get you out of your energy-rut by challenging your comfort zone and increasing endorphins.

*Pray—pray with gratitude on your way to work.  Pray blessings over others. This type of prayer shifts the focus from yourself, which can often feel desperate and unsatisfying, and instead fills you up with the goodness of God, ultimately energizing your spirit.

 

A Final Word

You are powerful creation of God, and you are full of purpose! Practice letting go of unhealthy habits and energy vampires so you can embrace the goodness that God has in store for you. Start each day with resolve to keep growing, learning, and serving. Practice sound health choices to aid you in that mission. And don’t give up! 

 

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future… (NIV)

 

Greer, S., Goldstein, A. & Walker, M. The impact of sleep deprivation on food desire in the human brain. Nat Commun 4, 2259 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms3259

Martin L.Pall, “Microwave frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) produce widespread neuropsychiatric effects including depression.” Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy, Volume 75, Part B, September 2016, Pages 43-51, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0891061815000599?via%3Dihub

Vina, J., Sanchis-Gomar, F., Martinez-Bello, V., & Gomez-Cabrera, M. C. (2012). Exercise acts as a drug; the pharmacological benefits of exercise. British journal of pharmacology, 167(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-5381.2012.01970.x