My energy level

“Introverts are like a rechargeable battery. They need to stop expending energy and rest in order to recharge. Extroverts are like solar panels that need the sun to recharge. Extroverts need to be out and about to refuel.”
-Marti Olsen Laney

I’m going to warn you right now, this is going to be a bit of a nerdy post 😉 The above quote perfectly describes how I feel on a daily basis. I (usually) start the day with a full charge. Then as the day progresses, I lose energy. This made me think of Link from the Legend of Zelda. For anyone not familiar with the games, Link has a row of hearts at the top of the screen and every time he takes damage, the hearts start to empty. If he loses all the hearts, its game over and you have to restart. Kinda like me.

When a co-worker interrupts you

Since I enjoy video games, I also enjoy comparing aspects of my life to video games. As I encounter different situations in my daily life, my energy drops a little. Sometimes it drops a lot. But rather than drinking a potion to replenish it, I have to be a little more creative.

There are a few recurring, unavoidable events that drain my energy at work. Since it is not considered socially acceptable to live in a cave, I have to go to work, talk to people, and spend time being social. There are constant interruptions to contend with. I lose track of how many times a day I’m interrupted and jerked out of my concentration. People ask questions, come up to my desk and make requests, and will start talking randomly for no reason. And after work is over, there’s still things to be done. Whether I go to the gym for a workout, shop for groceries, or pick things up at the mall, I’m spending energy being out in public. And if I do too many of these things, I end up drained and overwhelmed by the end of the day (or sooner).

Quick! Take your coffee break

In order to counteract these things, I have a few secret weapons. While I don’t have potions or special equipment to help me, there are things I can do. At work I take breaks for coffee/tea and lunch. When I’m getting overwhelmed, I’ll head to the kitchen and grab a snack. A change of scenery can help immensely. I’ll read a book on my lunch break. Even though I’m still at work, reading has a way of isolating me from the rest of my environment. Its a great way to escape temporarily. Even driving to and from work is a good way to recharge a little bit. Then when I get home, I go all out. I’ll change into my super comfy clothes, wrap myself in a big blanket and sit on the couch with a cup of tea and the cat.

Do you have any secret weapons?

Image credit: Both images by Colony of Gamers is licensed under CC by 2.0

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