This could be the reason you are low in energy

We get energy from food, we feel energised when we are pumped with adrenaline from exercise and we have more energy when we are well rested.

But there is another kind of energy that often gets missed, it seems more woo-woo and less tangible than the rest, so of course us over-thinkers dismiss it quickly.

 connection, in all its different forms.

As a Hyper-achiever, we prioritise the things that we think will help us to achieve more. A big part of that is ensuring we are always high energy, feeling and doing our best. As science and society promotes good food, exercise and sleep, these are what we focus on.

CONNECTION that’s why!

When we are so focused on doing and living the perfect 7 am to 9 pm we become robot-like. We have all done it, we plan a week filled with all the ‘right things’ and live it on track, we feel like we have done such a good job, and yet we are left feeling sluggish and sad. Because the one thing we forget to include, is true connection.

I really get it, prioritising connection seems counter-productive to me, be it: sitting in the park and playing with my dog rather than reading a book, going for a walk with a friend rather than going on a run, speaking to the woman next to me on the bus rather than listening to a podcast. I am hard-wired to believe that unless it is work, exercise, sleep, or rest, it’s not beneficial to my success.

But the truth is, without connection, we miss out on a powerful source of energy. Often it’s the one I need most.

Let me explain:

As I said before, there are various types:

Connection to other- this is the one we think of first when we think of connection, it’s probably the easiest one to realise that we are missing. No one likes to feel lonely and so we might prioritise seeing a friend as our solution, BUT this is only the start. Connecting to others is about feeling truly heard and seen, it requires time, patience, presence and the right people. We cannot access this connection when we are in the mindset of ‘go ,go ,go and do, do, do’. The second important part is, other people’s energy is infectious, we all know that, so be mindful about who you chose to connect to. Spend time with those that light you up, who make you smile, laugh and feel confident. You might begin to notice, that these are the people who being present is easiest with- who you feel most connected to.

Connecting to Nature and the world- it is so easy to lose perspective about who and why we are here, in doing so, we lose energy. When I look at a tree and I think about all the intricacies that make it live, It fills me with a lightness- I sense that the life in me is just as complex and yet just as important. When we are bogged down by the endless life admin and heavy news or ‘problems’ that surround us, we feel hopeless and drained. A moment of connection like that, of perspective is enough to release some pressure, to bring you back to reality- we are all just a ball of cells on one big rock, so we don’t need to take everything so seriously! (I know, easier said than done!)

Connection to ourselves- yep, it gets even more woo-woo! Having said that, self-connection is actually quite simple and logical. When we feel that we are behaving in alignment with our values and aims, we aren’t working against ourselves, there is less resistance and in turn, we have more energy. We can get confused about what our values and aims are when we get stuck in our minds as over-thinkers but the truth is, if we pay attention to when we feel most energetic, we can often uncover them easily. In my case, when I am sat at my desk writing my Lil leaps newsletter, I type quickly and I am engrossed in it. Whereas when I am editing a TikTok, to attract as much attention as I can online, It takes me far longer and I am far less motivated. See, writing about what i care about gives me energy, I am connected to myself and my interests!

So let’s get down to business

HOW, WHAT and WHEN to work on connection? Cause I clearly need it!

Here are some Lil Tips and Tricks to practice connection, some of them work on just one kind, some of them work on all of them. See what gives you the most energy and practice those more, leave what doesn’t work for you.

As ever, I want to hear how you get on. What lights you up?

Love from Lil