Running on Empty…6 Ways to Refuel

Running on Empty…6 Ways to Refuel

I saw the funniest meme on FaceBook the other day. It was a Pinterest-worthy picture of a sandwich made from the beginning of the school year contrasted with one from the end of the school year, which was literally a carrot tucked inside of a piece of bread. I wish I had saved the picture! It really depicts how I feel right now, and I’m guessing many of you too. Just like the Jackson Browne song from 1977, I am “Running on Empty.” “I look around for the friends that I used to turn to, to pull me through. Looking into their eyes I see them running too. Running on, running on empty. Running on, running blind. Running on, into the sun, but I’m running behind.”

My days lately have been started by too little sleep, fueled by too much caffeine, and ended by collapsing into bed feeling that I didn’t accomplish near enough. My days seem to fly by in a flurry of busyness that isn’t really productive. My to-do list gets shoved to the side because new things are constantly popping up all around me (Don’t even ask me how many trips to different stores I made last week for the gazillion projects my two youngest have had assigned). I strive to be organized, and the lack of control of my schedule leaves me feeling inefficient and unproductive. I’m going in circles, and not getting anywhere.

If you feel anything close to this, it is time to refuel. You are with me, “running on empty.” After wallowing in a pity party about how drained I am, I decided to take action to figure out how to refuel my life and amp up my productivity. Here’s what I am implementing:

Personal Time – Taking time for ourselves is a gift to our whole family. A break from the humdrum of life is sometimes just what is needed. I chose to write outside by the pool today for a refreshing change of scenery and some much-needed Vitamin D. My creativity flowed well, and I felt my stress level lower.

Scheduling a family game night or other activity can help us remember why we run ourselves ragged. We have had some of our most fun having a silly dance party in the kitchen after dinner. Kids are really cute, most of the time. A date night may be just what the doctor ordered to reconnect with our SO (significant other). Scheduling a GNO (girls’ night out) or even a night in with friends is sure to bring laughter and fun into our lives. Alone time should also be included in our quest for better balance.

Getaways – Taking time to get away from our routine can revive our spirit. A family trip allows for bonding. Traveling with our special someone helps us remember we are more than a mom/dad/employee/carpool queen/etc. Getting away with friends really affords a break from our routine. These vacations don’t have to be grand month-long international affairs; even an evening away or a staycation can do the trick to fill our tanks. Making memories with the ones we love is the goal.

Treating our Mind, Body, and Soul – Most of us are caregivers by nature, but we neglect caring for ourselves. We need to make ourselves a priority again. If our cup is empty, we can’t fill up anyone else’s. Focusing on helping our mind, we can do something we enjoy like read a book, learn something new, play a game that challenges us. My favorite way to re-center is to bake. For some strange reason, baking cookies helps me focus on the tasks I need to do. So many times, I have felt overwhelmed by packing for a trip or preparing for house guests. For some reason, I feel compelled to bake, and miraculously, I get really productive after something goes into the oven. I have no science to explain that!

Our body needs care to be effective. The right food gives us the energy to exercise, and exercise is one of the best ways to release tension. (I wouldn’t have survived my divorce without my friends, running, and kickboxing.) A massage, facial, pedicure, or even a new hair cut can do wonders for our mood and outlook. Even something as simple as taking a walk can energize us.

Our soul needs to be energized to allow us to be the givers and helpers we have been called to be. Reading a daily devotional, meditating, focusing on breathing while practicing yoga all help us realize we are here for a purpose.

Seek Help – When feeling run down, get help. I turn to my family and close friends to vent and blow off steam about issues in relationships and frustrations in daily life. I find it very restorative. There are many groups available online for almost any situation. As a parent of adolescents, I find things like Grown & Flown and Your Parent for Teens to be informative, and they serve to let me know I’m not the only one dealing with issues. Obviously, it goes without saying, that a counselor, psychologist, therapist, or psychiatrist can work miracles in helping us see things from a fresh perspective and help us figure out the best tools we have to handle our situations in life.

Give Back – That may sound counter-intuitive to do more when we feel we are juggling doing too much, but doing some community service can help us realize that we don’t have it too badly after all. Finding a club or group that expands our interests can revive us. Years ago, I belonged to a group of scrapbookers, and I loved spending time with women being creative. I learned a lot from our Ladies’ Club at church with women from all different life stages. Working with the PTA organizations at my children’s schools allowed me to give back to the school community, know what was happening at my children’s schools, and introduced me to a wonderful group of volunteers, many of whom are now close friends.

Schedule – Probably the most important thing we can do to keep from “running on empty” is to effectively manage our schedules. I know I struggle with feeling that my time belongs to everyone else in my family. My wants and needs are put low on the list of priorities, and I’m sure many of you can relate. We can’t keep doing that! It is counter-productive. When I am stretched too thinly and don’t have time for myself, I am inefficient and sluggish. I can’t properly take care of everyone else that way.

Family meetings to discuss upcoming events of the week are one way everyone can be on the same page. We use a shared online google calendar to keep track of all of our coming and goings. Taking time to keep that up to date is critical in maximizing productivity. In family meetings, make sure to delegate tasks, so the responsibility doesn’t fall on one person. Children can do a lot around the house, and that can free up some time to connect with the family doing something fun. These family meetings can also be used to plan meals for the week. Hopefully with input from everyone, there will be less complaining about dinner. When looking at the calendar, we should schedule time for ourselves, our family, spouses or SO, and friends. Never underestimate the importance of the people in our lives, including ourselves.

With a little bit of creativity and planning, we can keep our minds, bodies, and souls fueled and have what we need to give back to others.

Please share how you keep yourself from depleting your energy and how you refuel if you find yourself on empty!

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For more tips, see our Motivation Page.

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