One night, Henry could not fall asleep even though he was very sleepy and tired. He decided to take a sleep aid to help his mind calm down so he could sleep. One hour later, he was feeling drowsy and still sleepy but not sleeping because his mind kept telling him, “You are not going to be able to sleep.” Even a powerful sleep aid couldn’t shut his mind. Henry’s situation is just an example of how powerful the mind is and how it can overwrite any medication, supplement, or outside forces to fulfill its prophecy.

When it comes to the energy levels, the story is pretty similar. I see many people taking supplements, working out, and taking energy drinks only to continue waking up tired, feeling exhausted throughout the day, or having sleepy afternoons.

One thing we have to remember is that the brain takes up the majority of the energy we spend. When the brain and mind are working hard and processing, it may be difficult to tap into your typical energy levels. This is why addressing your mind as well as your body’s energy needs is necessary.

Mind’s role in energy consumption

According to Brainfacts.org, the average adult brain in a resting state consumes about 20% of the body’s energy. However, it is important to remember that the brain is constantly working and sending signals to the body, even when we sleep.

A study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience found that focus can change the amount of energy the brain consumes. The senior author Professor Nilli Lavie (UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience) commented: “During recent months, we’ve heard from a lot of people who say they’re feeling overwhelmed, with constant news updates and new challenges to overcome. When your brain is at capacity, you are likely to fail to process some information.”

In other words, when your brain is focused on something else (like your mind processing emotions, trauma, a recent event, or a life change), the brain’s energy consumption can increase by over 20%.

Pay attention to the past

Think about your past experiences. Do you notice that when you were going through a difficult time, it was difficult to be motivated? Or was it challenging to be more focused? Perhaps you lacked energy…

It is not a coincidence. Especially when the mind is overwhelmed with subconsciously suppressed memories, emotions, and beliefs, your mind may be consuming more energy than usual.

Give your mind a break

Before you jump into any outside energy enhancers, think about giving your mind a break. When was the last time you were compassionate towards yourself? When was the last time you did something that made your heart happy? Are you going through a difficult time at the moment?

Try these for mental relief

When you take time to process your emotions and limitations, you may find your energy increasing naturally. Try these mind-relieving activities to increase your energy!

Meditation

Meditation has many benefits including calming the mind, relaxing the body, and increasing the feeling of presence. During meditation, brain waves calm down, allowing neuropathways to work efficiently.

Journaling

Journaling helps with releasing emotions rather than suppressing them subconsciously. When journaling is done regularly, it can help with regulating emotions and creating mental flexibility.

Walk in nature

Nature is healing for all of us. As humans, we come from nature and we are able to reset the mind and body when we are surrounded by the balancing qualities of nature. A simple walk, a hike, or a camping experience can help with enhancing your energy levels naturally.

Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy is a subconscious form of therapy that combines therapy and hypnosis. With hypnosis, you can release stuck emotions, negative beliefs, and past traumas. By processing what your mind is focusing on, as well as enhancing mind-body connection subconsciously, you can soothe the mind.

Therapy

When toxic mind patterns are taking over your daily life and you find yourself consumed in your thoughts, therapy is a great place to release your mind. Therapy will not only help with processing and release but also reframing toxic thinking patterns.

Breathwork

Breath and our feelings are directly correlated. For example, when we are anxious we tend to hold our breath. Similarly, if you are not breathing regularly, your brain will receive less oxygen, therefore affecting the energy levels of the body. Breathwork can help increase your awareness of breath and regulate your emotions.

Final words

So, what are you missing to increase your energy? Your mind! If your mind is overwhelmed, sad, grieving, betrayed, or going through a change, give your mind a break before you try anything else!