5 Things Every Midlife Mama Should Know About Energy

Your days are filled with mundane tasks and a boring routine.  By late afternoon you’re exhausted and not looking forward to yet another dull, quiet night at home.  After cleaning up dinner (which feels like such a chore), you are ready to call it quits, veg out in front of the tv or with a book, and then head to bed to reluctantly do it all again tomorrow.  

Boy can I relate.  I used to always be so exhausted. I could barely get done what absolutely needed to be done.  And there was no way I was starting any big projects.  Just the thought of reorganizing my closet or cleaning out my son’s old room had me heading to bed to pull the sheets up over my head. 

What if I told you you didn’t have to feel like that anymore.  What if I could give you 5 steps to naturally increase your energy so you can create a more vibrant, exciting, and fulfilling day. And when you string a few exciting days together, you will begin to create a passionate, adventurous life! And these tips aren’t your typical drink more water and eat some spinach kind of tips.  They are simple actions you can take every day to rev up that energy.  Ready to hear more?  

As my mom always said “It’s time to rise and shine”

Don’t you hate it when you wake up already tired to start your day?  Yeah…me too.  One of the best hacks I have found to wake up in the morning is to drink a big old glass of cold water and breathe in some fresh air.  Combined, these 2 things send a jolt to your body that it’s time to get moving.  The night time sleepies are flushed away, and you become a little more clear to focus on the day ahead.  Is it too cold to go outside right away?  That’s okay.  Even opening a window for a few minutes to intentionally breathe in the coolness is enough.  An added bonus is to rock out to your favorite playlist.  Set the intention that today is going to be a good day. 

When you look good, you feel good

Now that you are awake, spend a few extra minutes prepping for your day.  Wear only clothes that make you feel good.  If they don’t, it’s time for the trash or the donation pile.  Even if you only have a handful of things you really like, that’s better than settling for something you don’t.   If your clothes don’t fit right or just don’t seem to be your style, you aren’t going to feel confident. And that confidence is what you are going to need to keep that energy. Take the time to fix your hair, wash your face, and add a little make-up if that’s your thing. If you look like you just rolled out of bed, you’re going to feel like that’s exactly where you should be.  

Create excitement

Next up…plan something to look forward to.  Is there a fun project you have been putting off? Or have you been talking about a vacation all year, but you just haven’t taken the initiative to plan it? It could be something as simple as making a special dinner with all of your favorite things.  Or meeting your husband or best friend for a 20 minute walk around the park.  Big or small, our minds crave something to get excited about.  And you guessed it, that excitement creates energy!  

Let’s get moving

Now after your day-dreaming session, it’s time to get moving.  No matter what your day has in store, I want you to move around as much as possible.  It would be ideal to schedule a 30 minute walk, head to the gym, or turn up the music and dance through the kitchen. But if you don’t have time for that, just move.  Take the furthest parking spot and get a few extra steps.  Climb the stairs instead of using the elevator.  If you work in an office, get out of your chair as much as possible.  Take a lap around the building.  Walk to your co-workers desk to fill them in on the latest project instead of sending yet another email.  I know you are going to find this hard to believe, but the more energy you expel the more energy you will be given.  Energy can not be hoarded.  You can’t save it all up to use later.  It is a renewable resource, meaning you have to use what you got to get more.  If you only have a small amount of energy, you must use every ounce of it before you are given a bit more.  Continue to do that and your energy will grow and grow.  So add in a few more steps, put on some fun music and dance while you fold that laundry, find some fun ways to move your body – hint, hint…a little afternoon delight counts 😉 – and watch your energy soar!  

Avoid the energy suck

There’s one final important idea we need to discuss around energy, and that’s your connections with people.  I have found I have to be ever so careful about who I am spending my time with.  I tend to easily take on the energy (good or bad) of those around me.  And if I am not careful, their mood, vibe, or whatever you want to call it is attached to me for the rest of the day and sometimes longer.  That’s great if it’s a positive, high energy person with good intentions.  But too often I leave feeling like they have just sucked all the life out of me.  Every crappy thing that has happened to them in the past week has been dumped on my lap.  Nothing positive has come from the encounter.  And instead of feeling positive about the future they (and now me!) are playing Chicken Little and it feels like the sky is falling.  Let’s be clear here.  Part of sharing life with others is being there for both the good and the bad.  But when sharing the bad, it’s important to do so with the intent of feeling a little better by sharing, pivoting to something better, and not wallowing in the crap.  And if after a few encounters together, the wallowing and the suck continues, it’s time to limit contact.  Your energy must be protected at all costs.  It’s too important to your overall well being to allow someone else to deplete it.  Key takeaway?  Intentionally seek out those people who make you a better person.  Those that challenge you in a good way, make you laugh, and help you feel like a million bucks are your type of people.  Good quality relationships are not only important for your mental energy, they fuel your physical energy as well.  

There ya have it!  5 simple energy hacks you can begin implementing TODAY to not only create a more vibrant, fulfilling, adventurous day, but to build a life you truly love.  These 5 foundational steps will help you build your energy to a level where others will begin to take notice and wonder how you do it.  If you found this valuable, I invite you to join my Facebook community Midlife Reignited and share your thoughts. It’s full of amazing women, like you, who are looking for friendships, positive connections, and some simple ideas to improve their quality of life.  I look forward to seeing you there! 

Authentically yours,

Amy