The other night I woke up at 2:30 a.m. unable to sleep. As I reflected on how depleted I felt — the result of too many early morning cross country flights to visit clients and family and a few intensive day-long strategy sessions with colleagues — I realized I’d been running a bit too hard and fast.
I was exhausted. Sitting on the couch thinking of my current state, it reminded me of my car. In great shape overall, looks better than its years, but running bone dry and in need of a major tune-up.
The next day I decided to implement my 6-step jumpstart plan to get my energy back:
1. Clear the clutter. I cleaned off my desk, cleaned out my files and answered some emails that were nagging at me. Oh and unpacked my suitcase that’d been shoved in a corner of the bedroom.
2. Plan for time off. I looked ahead in my calendar to anticipate what needed doing between now and the end of the year, blocked off times to think, write and carved out time to enjoy the holidays with family, as well as time for myself to rest and rejuvenate before the new year.
3. Say NO – eliminate the “maybes.” By removing three tentative commitments from my calendar, which felt a bit stressful to undertake, I gained back 4 weeks of my time, not to mention the hours each project would have taken me to complete.
4. Drink water. Seriously, it works. After being on 6 airplane flights in a week and drinking too much coffee (to wake up) and wine (to fall asleep), I was dehydrated. Nothing cures what ails you like water.
5. Sleep. The other miracle cure besides water. Yesterday I took a nap. People who know me know this NEVER happens. My mom couldn’t get me to take a nap at 2, why should I start now? But I allowed myself to surrender to my exhaustion and it really helped.
6. No Should Days. This is my miracle cure and it works every time. If you’re like me, you might have the fear that if you actually slow down, relax and, gasp – get horizontal – you may never want to get up again, so you just keep going. That’s when I pull a “No Should Day.” On this day (usually a Sunday) I allow myself to do anything I want, but I never do anything if I feel like I “should” or have to. I can scrub the toilet, but only if I want to. Yesterday I played Gin Rummy with my 9-year old niece, watched 2 movies (No Reservations and Nim’s Island), took a nap, baked squash, hung out with the dog and went to bed early. This morning I woke up at 6 a.m. without my alarm and felt good as new.
If you feel like you’ve been sprinting through this year and are in need of a bit of respite, try my six steps and let me know what works for you!
LOVE this article and especially your tip to eliminate the “maybes.” I’ve never heard it this way and it really landed for me. I have this appts that I feel obligated to and I’m a maybe for and they really take me out energetically. So I’m going to eliminate them.
I also just cleared my clutter this weekend. I put away all my receipts and threw out a bunch of paperwork. So freeing.
Tanya, I get caught in “maybe” land a lot, this one tool has helped so much, to realize I am in maybe and get clarity on a yes or a no. It also gives the other party clarity as well, because sometimes its a maybe because it’s not supposed to happen in the first place!
i needed this one today! thank you.
You are welcome Nasrine! Tell me how it goes!
Great tips, Laura. We all need those reminders to take care of you. Can’t take care of anyone/anything unless you take care of you!
Jean
Yep. Self-care, not my specialty, but I am working on it!
Laura, brava! Both for following your own tips and then having refilled your tank, overflowing in sharing those tips with others. This is the true magic of receiving (I feel my own blog post coming on!
. I loved the simplicity and the clarity of this. I wholeheartedly agree with all the tips and I too have found that water and sleep, such basic, simple ones, act like a miracle cure when used well. I like that expression…use well. Great, post. Thanks for taking such good care…look what comes from it!
Thanks Mary, I can’t wait to read your post on the topic!
These are such great ideas! And I really need a No Should day. Brilliant!
LOVE my no-should days, do them about once every 6 weeks or so, as needed!
Laura, I love this. I never say no to anything! I really have to work on that. I am definitely in need of clearing the clutter. I am usually very organized, but my office and home have sufferd from me being busy lately. My favorite are the No Should Days. I have never named them or scheduled them, but occasionally I have a day where I just decide to do my own thing instead of what I had planned for the day. I am going to start scheduling these.
Great tips Laura! We all get caught up in everything we should be doing and the most important should is taking care of ourselves.
I so agree, my body lately has been letting me know it is not happy and I need to pay more attention while I am still (relatively) young!
Laura, I call this radical self-care. It’s radical, because we never think to do it. I love that you have the self-knowledge to know that you had to take some down time and take care of yourself. I love your plan. It sounds like a wonderful break, and so rejuvenating.
It is radical, and certainly not how I was raised. As you can see from the photo – I was raised to save world – at the expense of myself, trying to shift that paradigm is a challenge~
Definitely will share this with Mike!
Best wishes, Christa
Thanks Christa!
Immediately I’m implementing “No Should” days into my family’s schedule! What a fantastic idea
Also I must say – my 9 year old daughter heard she wasn’t hydrated until her urine was clear so she has the entire family on a WATER KICK! Sometimes I wanna scream – NO MORE WATER! But I bite my tongue because I know she is probably right 
Sammi, this is too funny!
Funny, I cleared my desk this past weekend, and finally got the chance to pull out tons of receipt from dr visits that I need reimbursement (we are talking 500++) that i need to get back! Seriously these receipt had been shoved in a small bucket under my desk for the past 6 months..so freeing.
I love the “no should days” idea, i practice something similar usually on Sundays too, but i like your spin on it. And, water, yes, me too, my lips have started to bleed from dryness and it just dawned on me that I’ve been drinking more coffee than usually so I’m horribly dehydrated Brilliant!! Great reminders to live a healthier & happier lifestyle. woohoo!!
Wow Yvette, way to get on top of it, I am sure your accountant will be happy you did!
Laura, this was a perfectly-timed post for me. Most surprising (for me): I’d forgotten about water! I always knew that I felt more balanced in the heat of summertime and more stressed in the fall/winter. But I often forget to drink water when it’s chilly outside. Could I simply be dehydrated?
A serious thank you for this piece – all of these are powerful points. I’m sitting down with my calendar tonight, with a glass of water in hand.
xo Sarah
I know, that shift from xyz to water is a challenge, I notice it’s coffee or tea, or wine or even sparkling water before I can take on the regular water, which is really the best.
Love the ‘no should’ days. These are some of the best most practical solutions to exhaustion I’ve heard in awhile. Funny, I had taken the time today to exercise, pace myself and clean up clutter. I feel so much better. Absolutely fantastic post. Love the car analogy!
Jenn, this really came out of me in 20 minutes, so I consider the advice to have come from the universe through my hands to all of you, there was clearly a need!
I love the whole list – but my favorite is #6 “No Should Days.” It reminds me of that we are best off when we stop “shoulding” on ourselves – whether they are our shoulds or someone else’s. Combined with enough water and sleep (2 big keys for me), I can see this making a huge difference quickly.
Jennifer, I have noticed I am needing A LOT more sleep now that winter is coming. And simply allowing myself that, either going to bed earlier or taking a little more time in the morning makes a big difference.
brilliant piece Laura…some great advice which I WILL take… thank you, big love to all hearts…
Thanks Eliza, so nice to see you here!
Wonferful post….clear, practical, yet gets to the very heart of the issues. We push ourselves to the brink and need to remember the need to recharge by “unplugging” and being kind to ourselves. Thanks for a beautiful reminder!
Thanks Susan for stopping by. I am doing a weekend retreat with no cell phone or computer and am looking forward to unplugging.
Looks like a great event! I hate it when I “should” on myself and will try your tip of “no should day.”
Leah, the no should has literally changed my life. Less stress, no guilt!
Amen Laura! I’m reading this feeling totally drained myself. I feel like there are a million things to do, a million demands, and a schedule with few breaks.
Thanks for a great post!
Just thinking of knocking off a few “maybes” makes me breath easier. A No Should Day is brilliant! I usually try to keep Sunday commitment free, but two active kids usually have other plans.
When my oldest was four he had to write stuff in preschool about his parents. According to him our favorite drinks were wine and coffee……I thought you would appreciate that
I DO appreciate that, out of the mouths of babes. I remember once taking my niece shopping and saying, you know as your auntie I should be in charge of your spiritual development and doing something more educational, She said, “Laura, you are a shopper, you can’t change who you are!”
BTW I love the pic at the top of your blog, so serene and calming.
Scott, yes that’s my new goddess photo (;0) I am so Zen now! I love that, I really am trying to calm down and take life at less than breakneck speed.
Great note Laura that I have also shared with my Site Leadership Team. Perfect timing with end of year blitz coming upon us
Glenn
Thanks Glenn, I hope the team will find it useful! I know I am feeling more in balance this week.