7 Things I Do When I Feel Drained
Burnt out? Frustrated? Take an inhale, you are in the right place. In this blog post I will take you through 7 of the things I like to do when I am feeling drained.
Some days or week don’t go to plan or are just so full that they can leave you feeling a little drained, anxious or simply frustrated.
So here I have put together this list of little things I do which help restore, lift my mood and re-energise me. I hope you find one or two here that might help you out when you are feeling drained. Funnily enough these are all things I do throughout my week anyway, but need to become a little more deliberate when I feel drained.
Each of these seven things are beneficial largely because they ask us to pause and to bring us back into the present moment, our breath and our body.
1. Yoga
A given maybe coming from me as a Yoga teacher, but it isn’t always the easiest thing to do when I’m are feeling drained. Sometimes the hardest part is getting to my mat.
My biggest tip here is not to make it too much of a big deal. Roll out your mat as you are & start in Child’s Pose, Balasana. Allow your breath to deepen & some time to tune back into your body. From there move in a way that feels good. If you would like some guidance, check out my free online class.
If Yoga isn’t your thing move gently in your favourite way. When you feel drained & depleted, a high intensity workout might not be the best idea. Choose something that will help slow you down & connect you back with your body & breath, rather than pushing through.
2. Restful by Tahlee Rouillon
The meditations on the Restful app have been unbelievably restorative for me at times when I have felt drained.
You can often find me legs up the wall, Viparita Karani, with an eye mask & heat pack, on a Wintery Saturday afternoon as I re-coop from the week. I also allow myself, time permitting, to extend this into a nap. If you are falling asleep during meditation or Savasana it means you need more sleep and should be allowing your body to rest.
So get some blissful tunes into your ears & pair it with legs up the wall, for some whole body restoration.
3. Sit Down with a Cuppa
I love coffee but when I am feeling drained, particularly if it’s a bi-product of anxiety, it is time to skip the afternoon coffee & instead opt for some tea and some high quality dark chocolate.
My Favourite teas include, White Jasmine, Rooibos and Chamomile. When travelling I always have my Joco (reusable) Cup, Lavender Oil and a block of good quality dark chocolate in my bag so all I need to do when I need some time out with something familiar, is add is a little hot water.
4. Play with Percy
Ok well, I am not saying you can invite yourself over here to hang with Percy, but if you have a have a furry friend take a break and hang with them.
He is always up for a hang and a nose rub.
Our pets really know how to live in the present moment, which is where life is. We have a lot to learn from them.
5. Read an Actual Book for Fun
I sometimes really don’t feel like it especially if I’ve been at my desk all day but reading seriously slows my mind down and helps me unwind. If I’m feeling too wired but really need to sleep, it will also settle me down so I am ready to sleep.
Sometimes it can be tough to get into a book, my rule of thumb is to read in about 30 pages or a third of the way in, in one siting over a couple of days so you can get into it and decide quickly if you like the book or not.
If you would like some book suggestions, I read 52 books in 2020, I also have a bunch of other book recommendations.
6. Get Outside
Sometimes curling up in bed after some legs up the wall is what we need & sometimes it is some fresh air in our lungs. This is especially the case in Winter when our workplace & homes are shut up so much! Sometimes getting out the door is the hardest part here, so just start with just a walk around your block and take it a little further if you are enjoying it.
7. Use Essential Oils
Last but not least, I use my Essential Oils. I sniff them from the bottle or my hands, I apply them from the bottle & massage some into my hair, I make a Lavender or Peppermint Oil tea, I diffuse them. It is pretty amazing how an amazing smell can quickly shift our mood or energy.
If I am feeling drained but need to get back in the game, I use a citrus oil like Cheer and Peppermint to perk me back up.
If I have the opportunity to rest I am drawn to tree, herb and florals. Particularly, Forgive, Console, Rose and AromaTouch, all of which I have in a roller bottle to apply with minimal effort.
The Yoga Collection is also wonderful to inhale!
