Make your energy count!

Every action you take uses your energy, the mental and emotional energy that you need to stay positive and focused. But what you may not be aware of is that the actions you don’t take use energy as well.

You put off cleaning your disorganized garage, and so the clutter distracts you each time you get in and out of your car.

You put off going to the grocery store, and so each night there's a struggle to decide on what to make for dinner.

You put off paying the bills and the mere thought of that pile zaps your energy each time you remember that it needs to be done.

Though these may seem small distractions they can add up to deplete your energy from focusing on what you want. Before you know it you’ll be asking yourself, "Where did the time go, why can’t I get anything done?"

When you choose to live your life consciously, you can achieve the things you want. How you choose to spend your time and energy is based on your values. You have a choice to either continue the way things are and hope things get better or you can do something about it.

We’ve all heard this before and sometimes are motivated to do something. Where most of us fail is we try to take too big a step - the "all-or-nothing" approach. Generally, we’ll start something with good intention and lots of energy, only to be pulled away and then have our energy or our desire to devote energy diminished. So how can you get a different result? Try a few of these effective strategies:

Identify where your energy goes - Write down a typical day’s activities or create a to-do list for uncompleted projects. Use a journal or note pad and write down the feelings attached to items that create the most stress. Next, write down the feelings you’d have if you were able to complete those things.

Eliminate the things that drain your energy – Review your list and notice what has been there, uncompleted for a while. Determine the true value of completing it and make a final determination to do it or take it off. Learn to let go.

Choose how to use your energy by creating a priority list – Do the things you desire least to do first and see how much time you’ll have left over for things you want to do.

Create ways to replenish – Reward yourself daily and give yourself permission to celebrate when you reach a goal. Or break a task up and do something fun after each step.

Listen to your internal messages and use the power of thought to shift your energy – Negative talk has a way of breeding more and directly taps into your mental reservoir. Simply changing “I have to” to “I want to” and “I’ll try” to “I will” can create a positive energy shift.

Address the concerns, worries or fears that are causing your procrastination - By writing them down and exposing them, you’ll see if they are rational or not. Then create a plan of action to resolve what is left - one baby step at a time.

Use a support person to help you follow through – Determine when you’ll complete a task and ask a friend or family if you can let them know you did it.

Connect with your personal power that allows you to get things done – Take 5 minutes a day to breathe, relax, center and appreciate you and your life. Acknowledge and validate what you are doing right.

When you live a more conscious life, choosing where to spend your energy, you’ll naturally distribute your time and energy differently, creating a sense of balance that leaves you feeling more alive and powerful…making your energy count!

By:  Rene’ Rioux, CEC

(Published: Health and Fitness Magazine 06/04)