10 Energy Zappers and How to Zap ‘em Back…

How much of your energy is spilling out into the ocean of your life? Think of your energy like the BP Oil Spill. Oil can be energy but if spilled into the ocean it’s energy zapping.

As the BP oil spill has shown us, cleaning up is significant more costly than drilling for it. Same holds true for your personal energy stores. If you deplete yourself too much, it can take months and month to fully recover.

So the easiest way to maintain and grow your energy – don’t ever lose it!! Here are ten hidden energy zappers and how to zap ‘em back…

1. Inadequate Water: Quality and Quantity. Yawning a lot today? You are probably dehydrated, and yawning is the result. Drink good quality water — one-half your weight in ounces per day. So, at 150 pounds, you should drink 75 oz of water (not soda, not beer, not ice tea, not coffee – water!).

2. Too Little Protein; Too Many Carbs and Calories. Most people don’t eat enough protein and eat way too many carbs and total calories. I’m NOT talking about a high-protein diet but a good balance between protein and carbs. To calculate your needed protein intake see: How Much Protein per Day Should You Eat? The easiest way to keep total calories down: limit or eliminate alcohol – that will immediately cut 200 – 800 calories per day!!

3. Sugar. Including (and especially) sugar substitutes. Unless the sugar comes in a fruit or vegetable, it’s really just the devil in disguise. It will cajole you into thinking you have more energy, and then ZAP, you’ll crash even lower. For more tips on eating right check out The Morning Coach: Give Your Body the Proper Fuel

4. Dishonesty. All those little promises you make to yourself — and don’t keep — insidiously eat away at your energy. You spend psychic time and energy saying over and over – I’ll write that book, clean the garage, build that shelf, play with the kids more… Be mindful of the internal promises you make – and KEEP them.

5. Disingenuousness. If you say you are going to do something — do it. Saying yes just to please someone not only saps you of energy but also empowers the task as it looms over you and sucks your enthusiasm right out. Make a commitment – keep it – or don’t make it to begin with.

6. Isolation. We all want and need quiet time (see #7), but too much, for too long is not healthy – it’s wallowing in your own pity. Get out, take a walk in the sun, get coffee at local coffee shop, go to the mall, have lunch with a friend – anything just let life in.

7. Over-stimulation. Today, overstimulation is the most likely cause of fleeing to isolation. You do need some quiet time, by yourself. Strike a balance between overstimulation and isolation by taking a 20 minute peaceful break every day. Meditate, or if that’s not your thing, just sit quietly in a park or library, or walk around the office or neighborhood. Check out The No. 1 Habit of Highly Creative People on the zenhabits blog for more ideas.

8. Negative People. Dealing with difficult and or negative people is carcinogenic. They are not worth your time, energy and passion. Leave them be, change your job, do whatever you need to surround yourself with people you enjoy being with and who challenge you intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally – in a positive and affirming way.

9. Lack of Significance. Outwardly people strive for success; however, it’s significance that leads us to wholeness. When we’ve made a difference in someone’s life – that’s when we smile to ourselves. Being too self-focused causes us to close up, dry up, and rot. Reach out: open the door for the guy behind you, help the pregnant woman in the parking lot load her car. Start small and the next thing you know, you’ll be volunteering at the local food bank. Joshua Becker talks about this concept: Stop Chasing Success. Seek Significance.

10. Unfilled life goals. The biggest hidden zapper is inertia. Not doing all the things you dreamed about doing when you were younger. Not even trying, not even taking the first, then second step. Do it. Do it now and you’ll feel the energy flow. Having personal integrity is Essential to Creating Effortless Flow and as Valery Satterwhite said, act with integrity and “see how your life transforms from one of struggle to creative flow.”