Keep Your Energy Levels Up In 2021

If you’ve come back from holiday refreshed and recharged, you might want to hold on to that stamina for as long as possible. Here’s how

- Natalia Lubomirski

Garner your emotional energy There are days when you bounce out of the house, ready for whatever life throws at you, and there are days when you really don’t. The difference is often down to emotional energy, which accounts for up to two-thirds of your va-va-voom, according to US therapist Mira Kirshenbaum, author of The Emotional Energy Factor.

“Emotional energy – that is, hope, optimism, encouragement, desire – is the basis for acting in the world and for doing so with eagerness and generosity,” she says. “When this is low it’s hard to act, so either we don’t go out with people, we don’t exercise and we give up on hobbies – or we do them grimly and resentfully.”

KIRSHENBAUM’S TIPS FOR RAMPING UP YOUR EMOTIONAL ENERGY

Do a social audit It’s amazing the impact other people’s behaviour can have on us. On a piece of paper, write two lists titled positive and negative, and place each of the people you interact with regularly on the relevant list.

Try to spend more time with the uplifting ones, and less with the emotionally draining ones.

Take yourself to court Guilt is one of the most exhausting and least productive emotions. When you catch yourself feeling guilty, put yourself on trial – imagine giving evidence in a court of law.

If you did the best you could do in the given situation, toss the charge out of court. If you made a hurtful mistake, then set yourself a reasonable “sentence” to make amends. Then let it go.