Energy is the Essence of Life

“The higher your energy levels, the more efficiently your body performs. The more efficiently your body performs, the better you feel and the more you will use your talents to produce outstanding results.” —Anthony Robbins 

I’ll make no bones about it; my team and I work very hard in our fast-paced business world. Everything is moving at an ever-increasing speed. I confess, I find it challenging to keep up and balance all areas of my life. The other day, I was talking to a close friend and he opened up about feeling the same way. I suspect my friend and I are not alone.

Over the past year I shifted my focus from just the pursuit of business goals and being continually in work mode, to taking time to “sharpen the axe” and recharge my batteries. My strategy for this lifestyle adjustment includes a few key elements. Here is a short list of what has helped me become more balanced:

Improve Eating Habits.  Easier said than done! I began by committing to eat raw food for 21 days. Don’t get me wrong. I love food and having a few drinks on a Friday, but I figured if I could eat 95% raw and only cheat 5%, then I’d be ahead of the game. It took time and commitment, but after 21 days I was hooked on eating raw whenever possible. Talk about the intense satisfaction I experienced when my energy soared to youthful levels!

Exercise.  Train and workout with a goal. In the past, I trained a few times a week. I wasn’t really getting anywhere until I read an interesting article about setting goals and time limits. Since I love cycling, I set my goals to improve my race times, enter races, and the passion came back. 

Get Quality Sleep.  As we get older, we require less sleep time but a better quality sleep. For many of us we do not get the sleep we need, which is vital for healthy energy levels. Better sleep…better energy.

Practice Gratitude.  No matter what challenges happen each day, see it as a gift.  Deal with it and learn from the experience. Letting go is just as important as gratitude. “Let go” of everything in your mind before bed. I found this difficult at first. Letting go nightly has made a huge difference in my state of mind, stress levels, and the quality of my sleep.

Find Time for Yourself.  Never be a martyr to your work or your family. Keep yourself strong and healthy. Over the long run, finding time for yourself makes you a greater asset to your family and work. Plan time to let go, unwind, and do something you are passionate about. If you don’t have a hobby, take the summer to find one that excites you. Anyone for Tango?

Get Energized. Energy is the essence of life. Without healthy energy levels we cannot succeed in our personal or business lives. For me, summer is a special time of the year filled with joy, good laughs, and great life adventures. Whatever your plans are, make them experiences to remember. Take time to reflect on your balance in life and your energy levels. You will be amazed at how just a single, small change each month can have massive results over the long term. 

Now go have fun.

— Ralph