Mastering Your Body's Energy Budget: A Roadmap to Menopause Wellness

Navigating the fast pace of modern life, it's all too common to overlook the delicate balance of our body's energy reserves. Our energy is the body’s currency - just as we carefully manage our finances, we must also be mindful of how we make regular deposits, spend, save, and invest our energy each day. Maintaining this balance requires consistent, intentional actions to keep us energised, resilient, and thriving.

Our lifestyle choices, the relentless overcommitment on multiple fronts, and significant life transitions like a new job, moving house or other life events, can send our energy reserves spiralling into what can only be described as "energy bankruptcy." These factors not only drain our physical vitality but also exact a toll on our mental resilience. Acknowledging these influences is the first step towards safeguarding our energy balance and preserving our overall health.

Assessing Your Body’s Energy Budget

On the topic of body’s energy budget management, we can look at our assets and debts in the same way we look at our personal bank account. Just as investments yield returns, and debts incur interest, our energy levels respond to the quality of our inputs and outputs.

O Assets: Identify activities and behaviours that recharge you and promote wellbeing. This may include nurturing relationships, engaging in hobbies or recreational activities, and fostering a positive mindset.

O Debts: Identify sources of stress and energy drainers in your life, such as overworking, damaging relationships, lack of hobbies, or self-criticism. If left unaddressed these liabilities can erode our vitality.

Strategies for managing your Body’s Energy Budget.

Maintaining our body's energy budget requires striking a delicate balance between the energy we produce and the energy we spend daily. Consistently making deliberate investments in our wellbeing is paramount for sustaining our vitality.

Energy ‘In”

1. Make daily/regular deposits to recharge your energy:

• Prioritise quality sleep by maintaining a consistent sleep schedule.
• Fuel body with balanced, nutrient-rich meals and snacks
• Engage in enjoyable physical activities that rejuvenate body and mind.
• Cultivate meaningful relationships through regular communication and connection.
• Don't hesitate to seek support from friends, family, or professionals when needed.

2. Ensure you find the ‘save mode’ and use it - Identify strategies to “preserve Energy’ (Savings):

• Schedule regular periods of rest and relaxation to recharge your batteries.
• Dedicate time to indulge in reading books or engaging with other forms of rest.
• Delegate tasks or outsource responsibilities to lighten your workload and free up time for self-care.

Energy ‘Out

1. Keep an eye on your body’s energy expenditure:

• work
• caring for family and aging parents
• various other commitments (volunteering, projects that you are involved with)
• not sleeping
• comfort eating of unhealthy processed foods
• sedentary lifestyle
• Exceeding safe alcohol consumption limits

2. Make regular investments that would bring you energy ‘dividends’- be clear about short-term and long-term investments in wellbeing:

• Short-term:
  • Practice mindfulness meditation or deep breathing exercises to centre yourself in the present moment.
  • Cultivate an attitude of gratitude (maybe keeping a daily journal of things you're thankful for, or savouring life’s small pleasures)
  • Engage in recreational activities that bring you joy, whether it's hiking, painting, or playing music
  • Pursue hobbies that bring a sense of joy, fulfilment or mastery.

• Long-term:
  • Foster pro-social behaviours by supporting causes you're passionate about.
  • Invest time and effort into nurturing meaningful relationships with friends, family, and colleagues.
  • Commit time and energy to learning by pursuing new skills and interests.
  • Build connections with like-minded individuals who share your values and aspirations

3. Monitor for ‘red flags’ and ‘suspicious activity’

• Mindless social media scrolling
• ‘Toxic’ relationships
• Monitor behaviours that may deplete energy despite appearing positive or constructive.
• Be mindful of excessive engagement in any activity, whether it's work, socialising, or hobbies, and strive for balance in your daily life.
• Avoid overexercising by listening to your body's signals and incorporating rest days into your workout routine.

By adopting a proactive approach to managing your body's energy budget, you can protect yourself from energetic ‘bankruptcy’. Just as you pay attention to your financial assets, nurturing your energy reserves is paramount for leading a fulfilling and sustainable life. We need to ensure we prioritise self-care, cultivate meaningful connections, and embrace habits that foster lasting vitality. After all, your body’s energy ‘wealth’ is the foundation upon which your wellbeing flourishes—make sure you spend it wisely!

To gain practical tools, grounded in proven behavioural science principles, to effectively manage your Body’s Energy Budget, join our 'Change 2 GLOW® Program'.

Embracing Change! Transforming with Kindness! 

Content Disclaimer:The information contained above is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this blog are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this article. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this article. Menopause CBT Clinic® disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this article.