Ten habits that can drain your energy without a trace

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Prejudices and habits are what harm the well-being of each of us the most. Moreover, it happens so imperceptibly that when we find out, we are simply amazed.

In this article, we will share with you several very effective strategies that help to avoid the negative impact of such habits and return the former energy and lightness.

This happens to us every day and everywhere: certain things that have become an integral part of our thinking do not actually help us live, but rather exhaust us physically and mentally. Most often, we use these harmful energy settings without even realizing what is happening. We end up wasting precious energy on imaginary worries and thoughts that simply steal joy and happiness.

People, after all, are an energetic entity. Therefore, energy is the engine that motivates us, inspires us and helps us to use our full potential.

What if you feel deprived of energy? Are you exhausted, do not want anything, constantly worried and worried? You clearly understand that your energy reserves are literally at zero. Most likely, you have become a victim of attitudes and habits that literally suck energy.

So, read about 10 such “vampires”, which are the most common:

Life in the past

“If the present tries to judge the past, it loses the future,” – Winston Churchill.

Living in the past means that you constantly replay events that have long passed in your head. You analyze how and what could have been done differently, you regret, you get angry, in a word – you get fixated on what is long gone. Unfortunately, the past cannot be changed. No one has yet managed to rewrite life. What was is already in the past. And all that is in your power is to accept this truth and let go.

But you are not left empty-handed! You have the present and the future. Therefore, living with past memories and thoughts is more than unreasonable and unproductive. In addition, it tires you out a lot and steals energy. After all, it can be directed to those things that can still be (and should be) changed. Don't be so wasteful with your energy reserves. Make better use of the resources available here and now.

Guilt

In her book “How to Say “No” Without Guilt. And Say “Yes” to Free Time, Success, and Everything That's Important to You,” Patti Brightman claims that when you feel guilty, it leads to a great waste of energy.

So, accepting the past and letting go of the guilt you've been carrying for years allows you to live fully today and build a happy future.

Indecision

Why is it so hard to say the word “no”? Some of us are so used to doing things we don't want to just to please others that we're terrified of saying that tiny word: “No!” They think it will make them look selfish and bad.

Here's a secret: if you always say “yes,” you'll have plenty of time for everyone but yourself. You've simply crossed yourself off the list of those who need help and support. So if you don't learn to say “no,” you'll quickly run out of mental and emotional energy. It's obvious: when you're busy solving other people's problems, your own needs and desires take a back seat, and then disappear altogether.

“People think that focusing means saying yes to what you want to focus on. But that’s not the case at all. It means saying no to hundreds of other good ideas that are also out there. So you have to choose carefully. In fact, I’m just as proud of the things I didn’t do as I am of the things I did. Innovation requires saying no to 1,000 things.” — Steve Jobs.

Refusing Help

There will always be someone in every team who wants to literally drown themselves trying to solve a problem on their own, but will never ask for help. Some people even do a project alone — just to avoid delegating authority to others.

True wisdom and wise use of resources assumes that one person can rarely cope with the task at hand. Even assuming that he cannot look at the problem from different angles.

This is especially true in the modern world. We have long since moved away from the subsistence economy, where everyone “grazed and milked the cow himself.” Today, everyone specializes in a specific area, leaving everything else to the discretion of people more competent in this matter.

Unnecessary worry

Most of the things that eat away at our nerve cells and prevent us from concentrating on work are related to the future. A future that no one can see. A natural question arises: is there any point in worrying about something that hasn't happened yet? And most importantly, it probably won't happen?!

People who have a habit of worrying spend a significant portion of their emotional and mental resources on a useless occupation in the world – solving problems that do not yet exist. Worrying about everything that could happen is a waste of time and energy. By the way, thinking about what could happen steals almost half of our working time.

“There are two kinds of problems: those we can solve and those we cannot. Don’t waste time on the latter,” – Duke Ellington.

Complaints

Psychologist Joan Garriga wrote that “complaining reduces people’s vitality.” Constant whining and complaining about everything that is happening in your life is another habit that steals our vital energy.

An endless spiral of complaints is completely unproductive. This behavior model literally paralyzes and prevents us from taking advantage of the opportunities that arise. We simply do not notice them.

Sometimes complaining is a way to let off steam or disconnect from problems. In a sense, it gives us a respite, albeit a very small one. However, when you get stuck in constant complaints, you lose a lot of energy.

Postpone for later

As a rule, you postpone plans or obligations because you simply do not want to fulfill them. Saying that you will do everything tomorrow is like starting to create a snowball. Sooner or later it will grow to gigantic proportions and cover you with your head. Then it will definitely not be a laughing matter, because the problems will only get worse.

“Start doing everything you can do – and even what you can at least dream of. There is genius, power and magic in courage,” – Goethe.

Always see only the negative in everything

If you always see the glass as half empty and are sure that everything will be bad and bad luck will befall you, then that is exactly what will happen.

You write the script for the future yourself. Sociologist Robert K. Merton coined the term “self-fulfilling prophecy” back in 1948.

“Initially, a self-fulfilling prophecy is a misrepresentation of the situation that provokes a new behavior, in which the original misconception becomes true. The illusory reliability of the self-fulfilling prophecy perpetuates the power of error. For the prophet will refer to the actual course of events as evidence that he was right from the beginning,” he wrote.

In other words, according to Merton, if you believe that something will go wrong, most likely it will.

The desire to control everything

Trying to control everything around you is one of the most pointless and exhausting ideas. It requires enormous efforts that are completely useless. In reality, a person can control very little. And there is nothing terrible in this. It is even more interesting to live!

The habit of control only causes constant anxiety and disappointment from unfulfilled expectations. It is much more useful to accept that it is simply impossible to control life. But living, enjoying every moment, is possible and necessary.

Everything flows and Everything changes. And it is impossible to catch up with this, to preserve reality. People and situations change. We change too. And this helps us grow, and therefore is useful.

Inability to put life on “pause” and rest

This is the last and very harmful habit that sucks our energy. It seems like it's easier than ever: sit on the couch next to a loved one, take a relaxing shower, read your favorite book or watch a movie, talk to a friend on the phone…

There are many ways to disconnect from problems and worries, and all of them are very useful for our health and well-being. By the way, the need for rest is also in the famous Maslow pyramid (hierarchy of human needs).

Finally, remember that our life is very short from the point of view of Eternity. Literally – one moment. Therefore, wasting time on anxiety and fear is a sure path to suffering. Instead, try to laugh, love, feel, admire, and be surprised as often as possible. After all, our world is beautiful!

If you spend most of your time thinking about what could have been or complaining about things you can't change, you'll miss the most important thing – the now. You won't be able to enjoy its beauty and splendor here and now.