Energy Ebb and Flow

Kicking Energy in the Butt

One day, I’m a sloth. The next, I can’t seem to stop moving. Chores are getting done. I walked my 3 miles in just over 20 minutes a mile. Clutter is getting organized. How is it that one day I can hardly drag my lazy behind out of bed and put clothes on, and the next, I’m bouncing off the walls? Is a happy medium too much to ask for?

Some days, I go from one extreme to the other; bouncing out of bed to get a lot done, but collapsing on the couch for a two-hour nap mid-day. My eating is similar from one day to the next, and I’m taking my supplements daily. Energetically, it’s a roller coaster ride in the dark, so I never get to see what’s coming next.

It’s getting to the point where planning a day or two to get some heavy chores done is a wasted effort, because I never know which days I’ll feel up to vacuuming, mopping, and moving furniture, much less when something like a faulty coffee pot is going to throw my entire routine to the wind. In fact, I’m pretty amazed the days I’ve set aside for errands and laundry seem to happen regularly, in spite of the energetic inconsistencies. Unlike trying to pre-plan for other chores, the ones I plan for a certain day of the week seem to happen no matter what.

Planning Isn’t Always the Answer

Sure, I could start planning certain days for major chores, but in the first place, it would take some time to get it worked into my schedule, and in the second, I’d really have to want to do them every week. As it is, I’ve managed to add in vacuuming when I scoop the sand boxes now, and that’s a huge win. Perhaps that’s the key; small changes.

As I look at all the things which have become second nature now, they all began with one, small change. I didn’t try to clean the whole house, or run every errand at once. I began with one room; one or two stops; one personal training day; one, 20-minute walk. Now, I do all the errands I need to on one day, get my clothes washed on one day (bedding happens less frequently, and needs a day all its own), and, when it isn’t raining, get my car washed on the same day I do personal training weekly, and nails bi-weekly. Sandboxes get scooped after my walk, typically, and that’s when I run the vacuum as well.

I don’t wait around for my energy level to cooperate. I do the tasks I’ve set myself regardless, and allow time for the 2-hour nap, if I need it. Whether I’m bursting with energy, or dragging my butt, I walk 3 miles a day. It also appears I’m getting back to dancing at least twice a week.

Exercising for Energy

Perhaps that’s what’s caused the energy roller coaster; a lack of regular exercise; a lack of consistent movement other than walking. If a body in motion stays in motion, maybe that’s what keeps the energy level consistent, and out of the manic-depressive world? It sure has made my writing more consistent again, so it’s worth a try to get my house in order too.

I know going from 90 hours of work a month to maybe 5 has impacted my energy as well, and look forward to getting back into a more robust schedule, even if it means increasing volunteer time, or spending more time doing work that benefits only me. I even had a vision of going out somewhere with my journal and writing in public again, be it a coffee shop, a book store, or a park.

It appears it isn’t energy that’s been waning as much as the onset of ennui. I’m a slug when I’m bored, plain and simple. The answer is to get un-bored! I do love how I can sit down to write a blog post with a problem in mind, and write my way around to a solution. Clearly, I need to get busier!

Grateful, No Matter What

My gratitudes today are:

1. I’m grateful for solutions.
2. I’m grateful for more dancing, and socializing on my schedule.
3. I’m grateful for the de-cluttering that’s been happening lately.
4. I’m grateful for adding more to my calendar again. It was looking rather sparse for awhile there.
5. I’m grateful for wanting to be more energetic.

About the Author

Sheri Conaway is a Holistic Ghostwriter, and an advocate for cats and mental health. Sheri believes in the Laws of Attraction, but only if you are a participant rather than just an observer. Her mission is to Make Vulnerable Beautiful. In her spare time, she’s also an accountant with extensive experience in Government Contracting.