This has been heard a lot in my house over the last few months! It’s feels like every time I look at my phone it’s saying ‘Warning! Low battery!’, and can I find my charger? No.
To be honest, it’s been the same for me too. My energy seems to have constantly been in the ‘warning low’ area the last few months. When the reality of COVID-19 hit we were all in a state of shock. I sprang into action mode, giving out and out, just trying to keep life going. Recharging just wasn’t my priority and my reserves were getting lower and lower. I eventually came to realise I couldn’t keep this up; I needed to find my charger again and give myself some proper time to charge back up.
Like a phone, we are not designed to run on empty. If we’re going to function (and actually function well!) we need to make it a priority to give ourselves time to recharge. I know for myself, when I have battery in my tank, I can think clearly, I am a more patient mum, I sleep better and my perspective is hopeful. When I get those reserves back, I can actually see possibilities in front of me, and have the mental space to grow.
Sometimes all we need is just a quick 5 minute boost, a mini-charge to get us through, but other times we need to give ourselves a bit more time, to put ourselves on airplane mode and give ourselves chance to properly get our battery back. Our charge points might not be the same as what they used to be, but that doesn’t mean they’re gone, they’ve just moved.
For me, a mini-charge has become:
- Leaving house and sitting on my front step with a nice coffee
- Playing my favourite up-beat music while I do everyday household tasks (tidying the kitchen after a day has become a mini haven!)
- Using my creativity such as making a birthday card
- Cooking a new meal, getting the children involved or using some new flavours (we need to eat anyway, so making the process a little different can become a double recharge)
But when I need it, a full airplane mode recharge might look like:
- A backwards lie in – going to bed early with a book and warm drink (my favourite thing to do in a morning, but much more achievable in an evening!)
- Going for a walk with a friend – I have beauty on my doorstep and I love to really see how friends are, to listen and to be listened to
- Doing a project I enjoy, such as putting up collage pictures up at home
- Getting creative with family or friends on zoom (getting my feet in lovely bubbly water and a face mask on a catch up and unwind)
What’s your mini-charge and airplane mode? Next time you get a moment, sit and brainstorm what your recharge activities are. And get creative! Is there a project that you enjoy? Or maybe there’s a new way of relaxing, maybe having an at-home spa session with a friend over Zoom, or do something that inspires you? When you find your charger, it’s much easier to get it plugged in and get that much-needed energy boost!
“That sounds great, but when is that realistically going to happen?” I hear you say…
A very simple key to the above that I often use with my clients is plan your next step now. Work out now when you are going to brainstorm your recharge list and put it in your calendar. Tell someone and ask them to ask you how you get on, set a reminder in your phone, initiate a meet up to talk about it. Put things in place to help make it happen and celebrate when you actually do it! Even if you can’t recharge right now, knowing when you can will really help.
So have a think, what does your charger look like now? Once you find your charger, set yourself up to win by prioritising getting plugged in and give yourself the recharge you need. (Oh, and encouraged those around you to do the same!)
