Hi, this has to be one of my favourite times of year. I went for a dip in the sea early this week and it was crystal clear, warm and almost dead calm (the surfers weren't so happy!). After having our beach brimming with tourists over the past 3 weekends, it was a relief to have space to stretch out...ahhh! Today, the topic is energy - are you out of balance?

Energy in - Energy out

A good friend of mine was looking exhausted and when I enquired as to why, she told me the story of one day in her very full life. She was wondering why she would fade out around 7.30 pm at night and have no energy to do much of anything except doze and try and keep her eyelids open. Like some little kids, she has two speeds. On and off. Her day starts around 5.00am with either a long walk with her two very active dogs or a surf and swim. Back home for breakfast and then the day is filled with client after client. She does body work and massage - all hard demanding work. The weekends are no respite - it's all action packed and every space seems to be taken up with some activity. Watching her makes ME feel exhausted! No wonder her body starts to fade in the early evening. By the way, she is 60. If would be delighted if I could match half her output!
Yet there is clearly something amiss and distressing here. Her energy equation is out of kilter.
No matter how fit you are, your body requires sufficient energy input to deal with whatever energy output you ask of it. Energy output has to balance energy input. If we take in too much (food, TV, stimulants) and don't exert the equivalent in energy output through activity, then illness, depression, and obesity can result. In fact, it seems Australia is tipped to beat America in obesity rankings in the coming years.
On the other hand, if we exert more energy than we take in, exhaustion and 'running on empty' is sure to happen.
I have mentioned the Japanese word 'Karoshi' in these newsletters before. It means death by overwork. Around 10,000 Japanese workers die every year from the effects of unrelenting pressure and stress. And it is now a global concern. Australians work the longest hours in the developed world, even despite all the public holidays we enjoy!
The long and the short of it is simple: get the energy equation in balance. If you are running on empty, find ways to recover your energy. Eat better food (go organic as much as you can). Take more breaks at work. Plan more empty space between appointments. Leave the office for lunch. Take up a hobby. Play more golf. Go for a swim. I might even let you share 'my' beach!