Energy is what keeps us going. You get the energy level you’ll need throughout the day from the foods you eat, the water you drink, and the calories you burn through sweating. Having enough energy makes us more functional and more active.
Being an entrepreneur can be physically demanding and requires plenty of energy to keep up with business matters. However, exhaustion and fatigue are not only caused by being busy or working all the time. There are things you may not know that are also physically wearing you out. Here are five surprising things that can drain your energy, along with tips on dealing with them.
1. Insufficient food intake
One of the sources of energy is food. Reducing your food intake, especially calories and proteins, will drain you. No matter how busy you are on business matters, try eating oatmeal, banana, or yogurt at work to help you beat the day.
Another cause of being drained is the long meal intervals. It is especially true for entrepreneurs occupied with meetings after meetings, setting aside meals. You may sound productive, but it’s not helping you at all. Eat at the right time as much as possible, or take healthy snacks while on a meeting.
2. Dehydration
We all need water to keep us hydrated. Some refer to this as part of self-care. Drinking water will help you increase energy, think, and focus. All of which are necessary for an entrepreneur’s productivity.
Moreover, keeping hydrated will flush all the toxins in your body, making you healthy. So when your energy is slowing down, check your water intake. You might need rehydration.
3. Complaining about work
Complaining about your work in your business is a subtle way of draining your energy. When you’re unhappy with your working environment, you tend to murmur, nag at others, and utter negative words. You’ll drain your energy by not wanting to be at work. The domino effect is that your team will lose interest and fire to keep working.
To avoid this, set a special meeting to address different issues involving the business, or you may propose a team-building activity to boost harmony and good relationship among all.
4. Too much sugar
Having glucose in our body helps us survive the day. It is said to be the brain’s primary food, which helps give us the energy we need to remain active. But too much sugar will eventually drain your energy. The more you eat foods high in sugar, such as donuts, cakes, or fruits, the more you’ll feel tired.
When your sweet tooth is tempting you for more sugar, start taking snacks high in protein instead. It’ll counteract the effects of sugar on your body. Eat whole grain crackers, packed tuna, or a chicken sandwich to give you energy for the day.
Read more: The 8 Best Foods to Keep Your Energy Up for Solopreneur Tasks
5. Always on social media
People nowadays navigate social media from time to time. Whether at work or in bed, it becomes an addictive way of spending a break. At work, many entrepreneurs casually scan the latest update on social media while waiting for a meeting to start. Some would still use their phones before going to bed. However, your five-minute social media time will turn into 30-minutes of wasted time. It will give you a hard time sleeping, resulting in sleepiness the next day.
Restrict your use of your phone, especially during the night. Place it away from the bed, put it on silent mode, or turn it off.
Read more: Social Media Burnout: How Business Owners Can Set Limits and Protect Their Sanity
Conclusion
It’s inevitable to feel tired from doing everything to build and grow your business. But frequent low energy levels may indicate something is not good. When you notice that your energy is draining too often, evaluate your daily activities and figure out what you’re doing wrong.
Knowing what drains your energy can help you make the necessary adjustments to your behavior and lifestyle. As an entrepreneur, you need to raise your energy level and be full of vigor to remain on top of your game.
