PRODUCTIVITY | SELF-DEVELOPMENT

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck About Energy Drainers

Finding Energy the Manson Way: It’s Not What You Think

For the majority of my life, I felt like a sloth. I wasn’t sprinting. I wasn’t even crawling. Parties? Dates? Let’s not even talk about the after-hours fun.

There’s no instant fix. Everybody’s energy blueprint is unique. But maybe, just maybe, you’ll find a hint or two here to redirect your boat from Lethargy Island to Energy Empire.

Being high on energy isn’t about flexing or showing off. It’s a weapon. A tool. Imagine the antsy jitters of a teenager about to have their first ‘real’ experience. Here are 9 Habits to Supercharge Your Life:

1. Budgeting Your Daily F*cks: The Energy Game

Sure, you’ve probably got a financial plan. You know exactly where every cent of your paycheck goes. But have you ever stopped to wonder where you’re spending your daily dose of energy? It’s not infinite, no matter how much those muscle-popping gym bros preach. I’ve got an energy budget, and I decide where to spend my f*cks. It’s like handing out golden tickets to a select few tasks that truly matter. If you go willy-nilly, diving deep into tasks when you’re running on fumes, you’re cruising for a meltdown. And managing your energy is a game changer. It makes the unpredictable chaos of a day feel a smidge more manageable.

2. Diet? Nah, Think Food F*ckery

When I tell folks “I’m vegan”, airborne meat pies are coming my way. I get it. Picking a diet can sometimes feel like pledging allegiance to a cult. But here’s the real secret sauce: Don’t get bogged down by the labels. See food as an experiment, not an obligation.

Blogger Nat Eliason summed it up nicely: “It doesn’t matter whether you eat the carnivore, atkins, vegan, paleo, or slow-carb diet. What matters is you experiment and see what different diets do to you.”

There’s some wisdom in that. Why? Because it’s all about playing around, pushing boundaries, and keeping things fresh.

But don’t stop at the plate. Dive headfirst into other life tweaks. Ice baths, dawn yoga sessions, and those goosebump-inducing cold showers. The goal is to shake things up. Stir that pot. Maybe it’s a certain food that gets your engine purring, or perhaps it’s that sunrise stretch.

For yours truly, going vegan was the game-changer. Sure, it came with its own set of hurdles (iron and B12, I’m looking at you). But in the grand scheme of things, that’s just a blip. Because when you boil it down, life’s too short for routine. It’s about exploration, trial, and a dash of error. So, go on, throw that culinary dice. You might just stumble upon your own flavour of vitality.

3. Walking: It’s Not About the Steps, It’s the Journey

There’s this “10,000 steps” hype. Sounds good on paper… but you know what it did to me? Gave me a whole load of unnecessary anxiety. Some days, I’m a step champion; others, I barely clock a thousand. It’s life.

Then came my knee debacle. No idea what went south, but suddenly my left knee was throwing a fit. Felt like I twisted it in my sleep or something. My remedy was to walk it off. Literally. Planting my butt on a chair made it worse, so I laced up and started hitting the pavement more than usual.

Inadvertently, this knee snafu became a blessing. Three strolls a day, and I was smitten. Every return felt like a battery recharge. My mind was clearer like someone had taken a broom to the cobwebs of my petty gripes.

It wasn’t just a physical shift. Those walks morphed into a mental voyage. Soaking up some rays, blending with nature, and diving deep into David Senra’s podcast, Founders. Suddenly, I’m decoding the genius of Henry Ford or decoding the enigma that was Tiger Woods’ obsession with golf.

Walk for the sheer hell of it. Because sometimes, it’s less about the energy in your step and more about the step igniting your energy. Plus, who knows what other eureka moments you’ll stumble upon?

4. That Time a Book Almost Gave Me Wings

Here’s a recommendation you didn’t ask for, but trust me on this: “Stealing Fire.” This book isn’t just ink on pages. It’s a revelation about energy and high-fliers.

The writers dive deep into the realms of top-dog performers, the kind who make us mere mortals look like we’re stuck in slo-mo. And the golden nugget is how they tap into these ‘flow states’ to, well, fly even higher.

But the shocker is a lot of it has to do with our own bodies. The way you stand, the rhythm of your steps, even the tone of your voice — it all meshes together to form this potent energy cocktail that others can’t help but sip from.

It reminded me of a Tony Robbins’ wisdom-nugget from way back: “Change how you move, and change how you feel.”

So, crack that spine (of the book). Because sometimes, shifting your posture or changing your tune might just be the boost you didn’t know you needed.

5. The Sleepyhead’s Energy Manual

Sleep isn’t just the universe’s way of telling you to hit the pause button. It’s nature’s secret stash of energy, just waiting for you to tap into.

The very society that made us crave hustle has sabotaged our shut-eye. Enter fitness guru Dan Go, with the ultimate sleep hack: the 10–3–2–1 mantra. Sounds cryptic? It’s not.

10 hours before you call it a night, cut coffee (or caffeine)

3 hours before ditch the grub

2 hours before stop drinking any water

1 hour before avoid screens like the plague

6. Energy: It’s Contagious, So Spread the Good Stuff

Your energy is like a radio station and people are tuned in, whether you like it or not. Going about life, giving off vibes like you’re forever stuck in a never-ending Monday? That’s a frequency people can feel, and it’s not the uplifting kind.

Writer Dan Koe laid it out, straight no chaser: good writing isn’t just about professionalism. It’s an energy game.

When you’re jazzed about what you do, it’s like you’re secretly slipping a little energy cocktail into everything you churn out.

Here’s the litmus: if every time, a certain gig or task feels like you’re dragging your soul through the mud, maybe it’s time to pull a switcheroo. Because energy isn’t just about consumption — it’s the magic you radiate, and people can tell when you’re running on empty.

7. Embrace the Slump, Then Kick Its Ass

Even the best of us get slapped by that afternoon slump. It feels like gravity just went up a notch, dragging your spirit down with it. It’s the universe’s way of saying, “Hey, take a break, Rocky.”

But here’s the twist — don’t drown in that lethargy. Wrestle with it. When that familiar haze of tiredness looms, you’ve got choices. You could give in and snooze it off. Or, like a rebel, you could bounce back — quite literally. I’m talking about jumping, maybe on a trampoline or even a spontaneous dance-off with your reflection.

In short, when life throws you into an energy pit, find your trampoline.

8. The Gym - It’s Not a Beauty Pageant

There’s this brilliant piece of wisdom from David Senra: “Every hour you spend in the gym is one less day in the hospital.”

Let that simmer for a bit.

The gym isn’t about strutting around flaunting washboard abs. I’m miles away from being poster-boy Buffman. But, honestly, that’s not the point. It’s about movement. It’s about reclaiming a bit of vitality with every stretch, every lift.

If you’re in there, sweaty and self-conscious, thinking everyone’s silently rating your bicep curl, here’s a reality check: Most of them are too wrapped up in their own reflections to give a rat’s ass about yours. In fact, they might just be giving you a mental high-five for showing up.

But beyond the superficialities, the raw deal is if you neglect your body now, it’s gonna hit back later. Think declining muscle, mounting health issues, the whole shebang — Harvard research says so.

So, whether you’re chiselled like a Greek god or shaped more like a very flexible baguette, just get moving. The gym isn’t about the audience, it’s about the performance.

9. The Subtle Art of Energy Accounting

Picture energy as a currency. You’ve got people who deposit into your energetic bank, and then there are those energy leeches making withdrawals without your permission. It’s simple financial wisdom. Maximize the deposits and minimize the drain.

Over the past nine years, I’ve treated my energy as my own personal ledger. Some people light you up like Vegas — be around them more. Others, they’re like financial advisors from hell, leaving you bankrupt in the energy department. Limit your transactions with them. And activities? If scribbling down thoughts online is your kind of caffeine boost, then for God’s sake, brew more of it.

I've figured it out through a near-decade of auditing this ledger of mine. There isn’t a magic potion or a silver bullet that’s going to keep you perpetually charged. It’s a cocktail — a mix of everything we’ve been yapping about.

Low energy isn’t your destiny. It’s just a current status. Challenge it. Adapt. And find what fills your coffers.

Thank you for reading my story.

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