Sustainable Energy: Replenish Yourself Before You Burn Out

Sometimes when we feel like we have no motivation it’s because we’re right there on the edge of burnout. We’re exhausted and are wondering why we need to keep pushing when all we want to do is something else…if even that.

What if, instead of waiting for burnout to happen, we choose differently?

What if, instead of staying up until 1 in the morning because everyone else is, we choose to leave the fun and go to bed at 10…because it’s what’s right for us?

What if, and stay with me here… What if we paced ourselves? I know, novel idea! 😜

We live in a society that has become all about hustle culture. This culture says, “If you’re not doing ‘amazing’ things ALL the time, you’re being left behind!” But that simply isn’t true.

Now there may be some folks who thrive on that edge, but they don’t do so for long. The crash is inevitable because the amount of energy it takes to stay there 100% is unsustainable.

Sustainable Energy Requires More Than Pushing Through 

If they are able to stay on that edge forever, you can be sure they have support and are doing things to replenish that you aren’t seeing. Things like:

• Keeping boundaries
• Resting
• Doing creative things
• Having fun
• Being in replenishing environments
• Making conscious decisions about self-care

If they aren’t, the crash is coming…You can bet on it.

I recently had a meeting with a mentor and normally she is in her office for these meetings, but when she logged into this Zoom call, she was on her boat enjoying the summer sun.

When I remarked on it, she told me that she had been ready to head into the office when something inside told her it wasn’t the right move. So, she changed from work clothes to beach clothes, grabbed her laptop, and went to the boat. She built her business so that she could do such a thing easily.

THIS is self-care! She didn’t shirk her responsibilities by going to the boat. She still did everything she needed to do. She just did it in an environment that fed her mind, body, and soul.

We may not be able to tell our boss, “I’m working from the boat today!” But we can set boundaries around our work hours and the time we give. We can allow ourselves to find environments that replenish our mind, body, and soul during the time we’re not at work.

Replenishment Can Look Different for Everyone 

This works for personal relations as well. There was a time in which I had to go out to my mom’s and I was not looking forward to it because her environment is very oppressive to me. But I couldn’t imagine going there and not staying in her space.

My sister is the one who suggested that I get an Airbnb. My therapist suggested getting my own car. And these two ‘approvals’ created the space where I could go do what was needed for my mom AND gave me the space to replenish and recuperate. My therapist called it ‘self-love’. It was eye opening for me because these options were never on the table before.

Both of these examples contain all of the items listed above.

Keeping boundaries: Creating the space needed for safety and mental health.

Resting: Having the space to relax and breathe.

Doing creative things: Going outside the conventional box.

Having fun: Being on a boat. Driving in a convertible. Creating new products or art.

Being in replenishing environments: Fresh air, nature, solitude

Making conscious decisions about self-care: Knowing internally what is right for you and abiding by that knowledge.

By incorporating these things into your life, you can manage your energy and motivation in a sustainable way. Even the down time becomes an integral part of the process in moving you towards your BIG Dream. Because sustainable dreams require sustainable energy.

And remember, your solution may not look like traditional self-care, and that’s OK. It may look like spending a little more to have a safe space, instead of saving that money and being oppressed. It may look like waking up extra early and dancing on the beach at sunrise. Or it may look like leaving work at 5pm and not being available the rest of the evening.

Create Your Own Sustainable Cycle of Energy 

You don’t need to bring yourself to the brink to then take time to recover. You can sprinkle this replenishment throughout your day, week, month, year, and life so that you have a sustainable cycle of energy that continuously feeds your BIG Dream.

So, take some time and think about what replenishes and restores you. Not what should replenish you, but what really makes you feel lighter, clearer, calmer, and more like yourself…even if it seems weird and strange to the rest of the world.

What boundaries are working, need repair, or need implementing? Create and maintain them!

Where and when do you rest? Does it fit your body rhythms or are you trying to match other people? Find YOUR rhythm!

Where and when does your creativity come out? Has it been squashed and need to be resurrected? Allow time for this!

What do you do to have fun? When was the last time you did that? Go do that!

What is your most restorative environment? Go spend some time there!

What are you carrying that continually drains your energy? You’re allowed to release what drags you down…Let it go!

How often are you really thinking about your self-care? Think about it and choose YOU!

You are the renewable source of energy for your dream. You are worth the time and effort to ensure your energy is well maintained.

Remember: Sometimes replenishment means doing something or going somewhere that feeds you. Sometimes it means giving yourself permission to stop doing something or leave somewhere that doesn't.

As you think about what restores your energy and what may be draining it, you may discover that some of the things that worked for you in the past simply don’t fit who you are or what you need now. That’s especially true when life has changed and you’re figuring out what comes next. 

The Identity Reset is a free 10-minute exercise designed to help you recognize what’s finished, reconnect with what matters to you now, and choose one aligned step forward. Because sometimes replenishing your energy starts with giving yourself permission to put down what no longer fits, so you can create space for what does.