unplug to recharge

How do you recharge yourself when you are out of fuel?
This questions can be answered in many ways, but I want you to think about it for just a minute.
Many of our electronics these days require us to plug them in to recharge them, and then they are back in use for us when we need them.
How do we take care of this task for our own selves?
Often times we will run ourselves into the ground, work non stop or constantly multi-task. These activities do not come without consequence though.
Burnout, apathy, illness, chronic fatigue, among many other things, are what we start to perceive as normal day to day feelings.
They aren't.
You should first ensure that you are getting adequate sleep. Which on average means 7-8 hours of sleep in a dark room. Lights can affect quality of sleep.
Setting a schedule of regular sleep and wake times that you stick to daily (even on weekends!) makes a big difference to your energy levels and quality of sleep as well.
But sleep is just one part. What about the other 16-17 hours of your day that you are not sleeping, but still dragging yourself around?
Well, the first thing to do is stop trying to give yourself artificial energy via sugary snacks, energy drinks or coffee. Those end up giving you a crash worse than you felt before you consumed them. Try water. Likely your cells are crying for a little hydration.
Try this for another positive change - UNplug to recharge yourself.
Unlike our electronics that get charged through the electrical outlets, we require the opposite.
Turn off your computer for 5 minutes or turn off your cellphone for 10 minutes. Do not answer phone calls for an hour a day, or take out your headphones while you are walking to and from places. Maybe turn off your car stereo and revel in the silence for a while. Turn off the TV and just breathe.
Sometimes we think that distracting ourselves with technology takes our minds off of other things and that can recharge us, but it is simply not the case.
If you can shut down all those distractions and just focus on your breathing, maybe repeat a mantra over and over for 5 minutes (such as "I am completely relaxed and feel my energy levels rising").
You might just surprise yourself with the differences you feel.
We are humans, not electronic devices. Our charges come from within.
Do it today. Just 5 minutes.
Maybe start with just one minute.
Have a great day,
Namaste