Between your family, the demands of work, household chores, social activities, etc., finding the energy to keep up with all your commitments can be exhausting. Everything feels like it needs your attention now. You’ve got so much going on in your life that it’s just one great big juggling act. Getting things under control will require energy you simply don’t have. There just isn’t any more left to give.

Energy is a precious commodity that when spread too thin leaves people feeling drained, overwhelmed, and stressed. When there’s too much going on in your life, I call that clutter. Clutter happens when people try to put everything at the top of their priority list and then try to give everything equal and immediate attention. It’s like throwing a whole bunch of tennis balls up in the air and then running around frantically trying to keep them all up there. Of course, this is impossible! The end result… Half finished projects, burnout, not enough rest, illness, lack of focus, lack of direction, feeling stuck, etc.

So how do you get more energy to be able to handle everything?

You don’t.

That’s right, you don’t!

The truth is, you only have so much energy. Once it’s used up, that’s it, there’s no more! The trick is to manage your energy more effectively. To do this, start to implement these easy and simple strategies:

1) Tune in to yourself – Start to pay attention to the messages you send yourself. Are you telling yourself that you should be able to multi-task and get everything done? Do you criticize yourself if you don’t get everything done? It is important to shift these internal messages and give yourself permission to let things go.

2) Set priorities – Setting priorities is about asking yourself 2 questions: 1) what absolutely needs my attention right now, and 2) what do I need to let go of? In asking yourself these questions, you will make choices that will conserve your energy. Determine what your top 5 priorities are and stay focused on these.

3) Schedule “you time” – “You time” is a period of time in the day when you do something for yourself. During this time, you’re not answering the phone, checking email, answering the door, listening to messages, responding to any demands of any kind, etc. It could be a block of 15 minutes or it could be an hour. It doesn’t matter. Just as long as you make a commitment to yourself that during that time, you are doing something for you (going for a walk, listening to calming music, closing your eyes, enjoying a cup of tea, reading a good book…).

4) Breathe – This may seem rather obvious as people are required to breathe. However, when people are in chaos, breathing becomes shallow and rapid. To slow yourself down, remember to breathe deeply. Take a couple minutes on a frequent basis during each day to take some good deep breaths.

5) Delegate – Giving some of your responsibilities to someone else or getting help with aspects of a project will free up some of your time and energy that can be used elsewhere (perhaps a little “you time”?). It is very easy to fall into the trap of “I’m the only one who knows how to do this” or “If I delegate this to someone else it may not get done right” and so on. Letting go of these beliefs and trusting in the abilities of others will enhance your energy.

6) Script your day – Just after you wake up in the morning stay in bed and take a couple moments to script how you want to feel as you go through your day. Simply say to yourself: “I want to feel calm” or “I want to feel energetic”. Initially you may not notice any difference, but keep it up and you will start to notice that you can decide how you want to feel as you go through your day instead of simply reacting.

7) Create systems to get organized – A system is any technique or procedure that you can implement to make better use of your time and energy. For example, a filing system for bills and other important documents makes them easier to find; keeping work clothes separate from casual clothes in your closet makes getting dressed a snap, and so on. Find creative ways to use systems in your day-to-day living that increases efficiency.

8) Set boundaries and say no – Choosing to say no will help you to stay focused on your top priorities. Always saying yes means you end up taking on more and more. Becoming comfortable with saying no will allow you to finish what you’ve already started and give you the freedom to choose what you will and will not take on.

9) Know your intentions – Before you take on something new, ask yourself how it will serve you to participate in that activity/project. If it doesn’t serve you at all or doesn’t serve you well, then it doesn’t meet your intention.

10) Eliminate energy drains – What are you tolerating or putting up with in your life that is utilizing energy. If you got rid of this energy drain, you would be able to use that energy for something else. Examine your relationships, environment, work, etc. and work on eliminating those things that drain you.

By practicing these strategies, you will be able to manage your energy, which will reduce your exhaustion and stress levels. You will be in control of your life, instead of your life being in control of you.