It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do — if you don’t have energy, you don’t have a life. Here are 8 things that energetic people do every day to keep themselves productive, effective, and successful in their lives and careers.
Enjoy.
1. They do meaningful work
Lately, we’ve been hearing more and more folks talk about this concept of “meaningful work.” News flash: this is nothing new. People have been asking questions about the meaning of life since Aristotle’s era.
The reason why there’s a higher percentage of energetic people who do meaningful work is because they don’t have to try as hard as the average employee in order to actually do their jobs — because they love what they do for a living. When you love what you do for a living, you simply have more energy. So, if you hate your job, now might be a good time to try and fix that.
2. They get enough sleep
Sleep impacts you in so many ways that I could write an entire article about it. You know how important sleep is, I don’t have to tell you. Still, it’s worth putting on this list as a reminder.
The most energetic people in the world sustain their levels of intensity by getting at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep every single night. Period. Not some nights. Not most nights. Every night. Perfect your sleeping habits and you’ll be that much closer to becoming an energetic person.
3. They take specific periods of rest and renewal
In their book, The Power of Full Engagement, authors Tony Schwartz and Jim Loehr describe a study they conducted on the difference between the best athletes in the world versus the rest. You know what they found? The best of the best take small periods of rest between sets, quarters, or breaks. Elite athletes take a psychological break by “going somewhere else mentally.” A tennis player, for example, might walk away after a set, playing with the strings on his tennis racquet, while his opponent uses those few crucial seconds to stress out about what to do next.
4. They do what it takes to stay fully charged
When I interviewed best-selling author, Tom Rath about his book, Are You Fully Charged?, he told me that there are three keys to energizing your work and life:
- Energy (eat healthy, sleep enough)
- Interactions (surround yourself with the right people)
- Meaning (do meaningful work that gives you a sense of purpose by focusing on how it benefits other people rather than just yourself)
The key is the power that comes from combining these three things on a regular basis. When you can do that, you’ll experience the energetic charge you’ve always wanted.
5. They eat well
Most people think that eating a big breakfast is a healthy habit. I disagree with most people. A “big” breakfast may provide you with an initial spike of energy, but it often comes along with an energy-draining crash by lunch time, thereby making you think “I’m tired. That must mean I need to eat something.”
No. Eating well is not about eating big the moment you rise. Eating well is about maintaining proper portions of nutritious foods that correspond with your daily activity level. If you wake up and plow through a bagel and a glass of orange juice, then drive to work and sit behind a desk for the next several hours, then you’re not eating well. This is because the bagel and juice convert to sugar and cause an insulin spike, followed by a major crash.
A better alternative might be something like a green drink and some scrambled eggs cooked with coconut oil. This gives you a proportional amount of fiber, protein, and essential fatty acids to keep you energized and focused to dominate your day.
6. They exercise regularly
The benefits of exercise are far and wide. Perhaps the most important thing you can do to become more energetic is to begin exercising regularly. One of the reasons exercise increases your energy is because it boosts your metabolism and gets your blood pumping and flowing through your body. It even helps with cognitive function.
If you want to join the ranks of the most energetic people in the world, then you’ve got to get into the habit of exercising regularly. Doing it first thing in the morning is best.
7. They practice mindfulness
There’s a substantial amount of evidence behind the power of mindfulness. When I had author Dr. Elisha Goldstein on my podcast to talk about his book, Uncovering Happiness, he told me about a simple solution to cultivating more calm into your day by using what he refers to as The STOP Practice:
- Stop
- Take a deep breathe
- Observe the situation
- Proceed appropriately
It seems simple enough, right? Try it out and this simple little routine will have a major impact on your ability to maintain a calm and steady sense of energy in your day-to-day activities.
8. They learn constantly
A good number of highly energetic people have a voracious appetite for learning. They read articles about topics they’re interested in. They read books about how to improve themselves. They listen to audiobooks. They take courses. Energetic people are curious people, and they’re constantly on the lookout for new and interesting learning opportunities.
Featured photo credit: by Danka and Peter via magdeleine.co
