Energy Takers: Uncovering What Drains Your Vitality and Mental Clarity

Have you ever wondered why some days leave you feeling drained despite doing everything 'right'? While energy-boosting habits are crucial, the real culprits might lie in your everyday routines. In this post, I uncover a few unseen 'Energy Takers' that could be derailing your health and well-being:

Focusing on the past
Dwelling on negative things that have already happened doesn’t serve your well-being. According to a Columbia study, we tend to focus more on negative experiences than positive ones. I know this is easier said than done, but when we can manage our thought processes and reframe past experiences positively, we improve our emotional state. Easier said than done, I know.

Energy vampires
I struggle with being around family, friends, or acquaintances who drain my energy. You may find this challenging, too, but I’ve learned to distance myself from those situations over time. I also try to recognize when I exhibit these tendencies to avoid causing harm to others.

Clutter
Besides being an eyesore, clutter can cause depression, anxiety, shame, illness, confusion, and other issues. Having a parent who is a “collector,” I can attest firsthand to how clutter impacts relationships with family and friends.

Fear
Living in fear can be crippling. For most of my life, I’ve feared not being right or enough. Part of this stems from childhood trauma and growing up LGBTQ+, but I won’t let these past experiences dictate my future growth.

People-pleasing
I’ve spent too much time and energy on people-pleasing. Through therapy, I’ve learned to identify when this tendency creeps back into my life and gained valuable tools to stop it. Johanna Schram has a great resource on the dangers of people-pleasing.

Overthinking
When we overthink, we pull inward, draining energy that could be spent on hobbies, friendships, daily tasks, or even sleep.

The News
One thing I avoid first thing in the morning is the news. It may sound simple, but starting my day with sad, depressing news drains my energy significantly.

Screentime
The average person spends 6 hours and 40 minutes per day on screens. Excessive screen time can lead to eye strain, sleep disruption, emotional exhaustion, poor posture, and other health issues.

Lack of Exercise
Movement is essential for your body and emotional well-being. A lack of it drains energy and impedes everyday tasks. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 30 minutes of daily exercise, but sadly, most adults fall short of this recommendation.

Overworking
Work often defines us, but being constantly “on” leads to burnout, exhaustion, and, worse, mental and physical breakdowns.

I’d like to hear more from you about what energy givers and energy takers you’ve identified in your life. Follow me on Instagram