What energizes you...and what drains you?

What makes you feel alive and excited? What sucks the life out of you?

The BECOMING Method series, post 2 of 8.

By this time, you:

- know where you’re starting from

- have determined your areas of improvement/opportunity

If you are just tuning in and didn’t join us last week, please go back and do so, or just grab the Life Balance Tool at www.jennylytle.com/balance. This will give you a way to take a look at your life in each of the major areas and determine where you’d like to make some positive changes.

This week we’re going to move on to the E in the BECOMING Method - Excitement!

What lights you up? Gives you energy?

What do you enjoy doing so much that you lose track of time? Take a few minutes to start coming up with some ideas. 

The thing is, as adults we often get so busy taking care of responsibilities that we can forget to do those things that recharge us.  And then we wonder why we feel so tired and stressed out.  

Think of the people or places that make you come alive and just feel better. How much time do you spend with them? 

While adding to the things that energize us is so important, it’s not going to have a very big impact if we don’t also address the things that drain us - the people, situations, obligations, etc.

You can love people and still put boundaries in place. 

Think about the people that you interact with on a regular basis.  How do you feel when you’re around them, or afterward when you look back?

• Do you feel better about yourself?
• More energetic and confident?
• Or do you feel tired and lacking?

Be honest with yourself about this, even if it’s painful.

• Maybe there are things about your interactions that you can change.
• Maybe you need to decrease the amount of time with them. 
• Or maybe it’s time to move on and away from them. 

Only you can make that decision, but it should be made consciously and intentionally, not just because it’s comfortable to maintain the status quo. 

In addition to the people, what things do we do just because we feel like we have to or because we have always done them?

Or maybe we started doing them a long time ago and just never gave it much thought afterward.

Our life changes.

And as that happens, it’s ok, even good, to re-evaluate what’s on our perpetual to-do list. 

Are there things on your calendar that you dread every time they come up?

Are they really things that you have to do?

I’m not suggesting leaving people high and dry if you have a commitment, but if it’s not something that you enjoy, you’re probably not going to be bringing your best and there might be someone better suited for the job. 

Consider exploring options for transitioning out of those types of things. 

Moving onto a more positive topic, even if you don’t have much time, taking a few minutes each day to do something that is purely for pleasure or fun or excitement can make such a difference.

It doesn't have to be anything elaborate.  It doesn’t need to take much time or money.  Some of my favorite ways to incorporate this are free. A few things that I love: time in nature, quiet time to read, going to a coffee shop, alone or with a friend, naps, candles, baths, journaling, catching up with friends, either in person or on the phone/via tech. 

Once you have a list of some ideas, take it a step further - can you weave components of them throughout your day?

Can you combine some of them to get maximum impact?

I love spending time in nature, and I also know that I feel better when I move my body. I love taking pictures trying to capture some of the beauty or fun that I see.  I have combined that into what I think of as #photointervals - I walk or run, then when I get inspired by something I see, I stop or at least slow to a walk and take a few pics.  And I repeat the process.  

What are some ways that you can do something similar?

Maybe it’s going for a walk and catching up with a friend at the same time.  Or if having a clean home makes you feel energized, how can you make the process more fun? Turn on some music and dance your way through the chores? Involve others and make a game of it? Or maybe it’s realizing that it’s never going to be perfect - and that’s ok! 

New to the whole self-care thing or just need a quick pick-me-up?

• Spend an extra minute in the bathroom. 
• Close your eyes and just breathe. 
• Give yourself a quick hand massage with luxurious hand cream.
• Moisturize your feet and put on thick cozy socks.
• Brush and floss before going to bed.
• Take time to establish - and maintain - a skincare ritual.
• Drink a cup of tea or coffee and just enjoy it. 

The most important thing is to take time for YOU. For figuring out what inspires you, what makes you happy, and then fitting it into your day-to-day life. 

Tune in next week for the third part of our 8-part BECOMING Method Series - C - confidence - what makes you feel amazing.

And remember you can grab the Life Balance Tool at www.jennylytle.com/balance.

Until next time, take a deep breath or two and never stop becoming the best version of YOU.