Are you feeling mentally drained and overwhelmed? You’re not alone. Many people find their mental energy reserves reduced at times. The good news is you can recharge with a simple personal energy audit that identifies what’s draining you and what lifts you.

What is a Personal Energy Audit?

Just as you might have an energy audit done on your house to find where energy is wasted, you can perform a simple energy audit on yourself to give you a boost.

A personal energy audit is all about taking an honest look at what fills your cup and what drains it dry. Think of it as a tool to assess your internal battery – identifying both power sources and hidden energy leaks that might be preventing you from feeling your best.

Why Mental Exhaustion Happens

Mental fatigue can build over time through small, consistent energy drains. These might include:

  • Automatically saying “yes” to requests when you really want to say no
  • Hours lost to aimless social media scrolling
  • Relationships that leave you feeling exhausted

These silent energy vampires slowly deplete your capacity to live fully and achieve your goals.

The 15-Minute Energy Audit Exercise

The beauty of an energy audit lies in its simplicity and immediate impact. In just 15 minutes, you can map out what’s working and what isn’t in your life:

  1. Take a piece of paper
  2. Draw a line down the centre and label two columns:
    • What FILLS me with energy
    • What DRAINS me of energy
  3. List all the people, places, activities and things in your life that either fill or drain your energy
    • Energy sources might include: baking, gardening, seeing good friends, or spending time in nature
    • Energy drains could be: reading the news frequently, tasks you volunteered for but hate or difficult relationships
  4. Review your “drains” list and choose just one item to either eliminate from your life, delegate to someone else or transform into something energising. This might be turning off email notifications after 5pm, arranging regular catch-ups with energising friends, or putting an hour in your diary to read for pleasure each week.
  5. Implement this one change  and you might be surprised at how making a single adjustment can increase your energy levels.

Remember, awareness is just the first step. Taking action, even on just one item, can create a positive domino effect that transforms your daily experience.

When you’re ready, you can tackle another item from your list and discover what new possibilities that change brings.

Getting Support for Your Energy Management

If you find this exercise challenging to complete alone, consider working through it with a supportive friend. And if you’re looking to create lasting, meaningful change in your life, I’m here to help. I provide a safe, non-judgmental space for you to develop strategies to maintain your energy and live life to the fullest.

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