Do you ever feel depleted, like your tank is just empty? Sometimes, it happens because of things that are going on in your life outside of work, but sometimes, the work itself doesn’t feel rewarding or fulfilling. Or you may just be in a bit of a funk in general. It happens to the best of us.
Here are some pretty simple ways to put a little fuel in your tank. Often the hardest thing about any of these ideas is just getting started. So pick one and go do it!
–Exercise — it can be anything from blasting your music and dancing to taking a walk to heading to the gym for a good sweat. Just move. 20-30 minutes a day can do miracles not only for your body but also for your spirit.
–Plan a vacation — it can be as small as a weekend road trip or as big as one of your bucket list adventures. Having something to look forward to can be a real mood brightener. Even if you don’t book it right now, start planning that get-away.
–Learn something new — buy a book, sign up for a class or research a topic that interests you. Challenge your brain with something totally new. It’s amazing what mental stimulation can do for your energy levels.
–Reach out to a friend you haven’t talked to in years — sometimes a reconnection to another time in your life can be a real upper. Find a friend from high school or college and make that phone call.
-Find someone that needs help — do you have a friend who’s more in the dumps than you? What can you do to help him/her? Send some flowers, drop a card in the mail or make a phone call…anything that shows you care. Focusing on someone other than you can sometimes be your best medicine.
-Volunteer — in the same vein as helping a friend, find an organization that does something or offers something that you are passionate about and volunteer. Do it for a day or make a commitment to be there every week or month. You will be helping you and someone else.
-Find a project – is there something around your house or apartment that you’ve been putting off doing? Like painting a room, organizing your office or buying some new bedspread and pillows to spiff things up? Dive in and get going. As you see the progress you’ve made, you will definitely feel an energy lift.
-Let yourself do nothing. This is probably the hardest for me. I am pretty wired to always be doing something, and I actually used to feel guilty when I wasn’t being “productive”. Let me tell you — it feels pretty amazing when you can just allow yourself the space “to be”…. It sounds strange to say, but you may have to practice doing nothing if it doesn’t come easily to you. It’s worth it though!
Just remember, we all go through times when we feel empty. If you can accept this, it makes it a whole lot easier to move thru it. And putting a little fuel in the tank can help get you back on the road to feeling like your best self sooner rather than later.