Have you ever felt so exhausted, tired and without energy that you simply could not get anything done?
If so, then you are not the only one. It often happens to a lot of people – and the trick is to know when to simply go with the flow and then how to get going again.
But just how do you get yourself perked up and ready to get on with your life?
Let me briefly recap what I have just been through.
I returned just over 2 weeks ago from my trip to India and have felt completely drained and energy less for most of this time. It probably didn’t help coming back to subzero temperatures and snow laden England after being in very hot and sunny Mumbai.
I tried to get going again with my work and other commitments but simply felt exhausted. Nothing interested me and hard as I tried I simply could not summon up any energy for my projects for this year.
I put it all down to the weather change and tiredness from the India trip – but it was only after my sister who also came with us to India was diagnosed with a blood infection that I realised that my lethargy was not normal and I too could under viral attack.
I am well now and thankfully my sister is getting better too.
What I would like to share is the one key single lesson I learnt on how to get going again after such a protracted period of low energy and lethargy.
Okay, firstly I did the usual things that one would expect to do:-
- Simply put my feet up. I dumped my to-do lists and just vegetated
- Took as good self-care as possible and ate tonnes of fresh fruit and vegetables. I even binged on a whole packet of custard cream biscuits – and for someone who usually avoids junk and comfort foods, that was really drastic for me!
- Went for short walks in the park once I had some energy. Not very smart as it is still so cold here, but felt good to get out in nature.
- Met up with some friends – and probably bored them with my India stories. Then spent some time on social media websites gossiping and catching up.
- Tried some light reading but couldn’t get hold of any trashy novels that were bad enough to read.
- Watched some DVDs and Youtube videos online. Not having a television set meant that for the first time ever, I missed not being able to watch some mindless dross.
I have listed these things to give you an idea of everything I tried but which didn’t really help me get going again.
So what was the single one thing that helped me?
Simple.
I got reconnected with my vision.
My vision for my blog, my coaching and for my work.
Knowing what I want to achieve in my life for myself and others and creating a noble and lofty goal to do this no matter what was enough for me to fight off any viral attack.
So what about you and what is your vision for the New Year?
What is your vision for your life, your work and for the world?
Having a higher vision for what you want in your life should be enough to get you fired up everyday, make you jump out of bed and go for what you want most in your life.
Otherwise why would you do it?
Remember your ultimate vision and keep that in mind as you face any challenges in the New Year.
Good luck everyone – it is going to be an amazing journey we will be sharing in the coming months.
Image courtesy of mind_scratch.
Hey Arvind,
Great to know you are doing good now. I think the first few steps you took were important in helping you connect with yourself. It’s only after you connect with yourself that you can connect with your vision and others.
Thanks Avani for your good wishes – I also just went through your recent blog post about 10 top motivators which really helped too:-)
Arvind,
I am happy that you and your sister are feeling better. Jet lag along with cold weather can play havoc on one’s health. Glad to see you connected back to your vision again.
Thanks Zengirl for your kind words – for a while it felt like I was never going to get through!
Arvind, good to hear you are feeliing better and able to focus on this year and what you wish to do. A little gentle self care for a while as viruses can take a lot out of you for a while. As you are such a health conscious person, this should not (I hope) too long. I am presently reading a very good book called the 80/20 Individual by Richard Koch. It has made me realise how much time I waste and how I fail to transcend my desires/goals into immediate and positive action, as I drown in mediocrity e.g shopping, cooking, cleaning and of course the 9 – 5 day job. For this year instead of putting 2/3 big goals on the side of the fridge, I am going to give myself monthly/weekly tasks towards my fridge side goals. The trick of course is to make me accountable, so Ive agreed with my daughter that she will hold me accountable. She is 14 years very straight and caustic sometimes. I’ve told her to watch this i.e peoples feelings, however Ive decided this is just the medicine I need as I have now almost given up on my daily cappacinno. She has stopped her mobile watchdog alerts and so now to the big things, if I survive her toungue.
Thanks Fiona for your kind words and advice – and for sharing your intentions for this year.
I can resonate with what you say about how we all waste so much time rather than focussing and getting on with what we really want to do.
Good luck with your weekly / monthly tasks – and sounds like you have a great accoutability partner!
It’s wonderful that you’ve got that zing back! I was exactly the same from when I got back from india too. I had a tummy bug and was feeling the same lethargy that you’re talking about and sometimes the only cure is rest but once I rested properley I was ready to go again.
Just this monday gone, I called in sick and decided to sleep the entire day, and I can’t even begin to tell you how good I felt after I did that, it was and indication to me that I genuinely needed it.
You know that Eminem song? ‘Guess who’s back, Arvinds back!’ 😉
Amit – it feels great to have that Zing back!
I wish I could also just sleep for the whole day – maybe this Sunday:-)
Arvind,
glad you’re ‘back!’
being a coach myself, i’ve also found that reconnecting with the vision really does get people back on track as long as it’s a really compelling vision which inlcudes describing all our senses in this. that’s what’s keeping me moving this year!
thanks,
Tania
Tania, you have been a great inspirational example for all of us in how to keep going.
Just keep in mind your grand vision…
Great to hear you are feeling better Arvind! I know how you were feeling, I’ve had some issues going on for almost 2 months now and it’s a struggle some days to feel connected. I find taking short breaks here and there really helps and keeps me going! Take care.
Adrian
Thanks Adrian – sometimes we just have to let go and let things sort themselves out.
You and I are not the only ones with this challenge lately. Apparently it is something to do with the beginning of the year and the energies around the planet.
Arvind, Sometimes the most important thing you can do is to take good care of yourself, and it sounds like that’s just what you did.
I too wonder if there is something about the beginning of a new year which is wreaking havoc.
Madeleine, I am glad to say that having taken good care of myself lately, I am now fully recovered and raring to go.
At the same time, maybe there is something about the beginning of the New Year which is causing havoc in us and all around us.
Dear Arvind,
So sorry to hear that you were down with what turned out to be a viral infection – did I read write? Now I am glad to read that you are on the mend. Keep going that way and with Spring in a few weeks, and longer days (yes the days are now getting longer) you should be up and full of bounce.
As you know I too had an infection which took most of a month – lethargic and not getting the strong light of Spain made me do something finally. So we are heading for Delhi tomorrow! We will be touring Rajasthan (did Jaipur and Udaipur, Agra many years ago). This time we will travel right thru to Rajasthan and visit the Taj (a second time) Mahal and fly from Delhi to Goa where we hope to chill out and meet up with family. This was not foreseen at all but it seems to have been just one of those things, make up your mind and get cracking. The last time I was in Mumbai I had said never again! The noise, filth, crowds and endless traffic was just too much. However, from Goa, we fly to Mumbai and some hours later fly out to Brussels.
Take care and hold those emails ‘cos I just don’t know when I’ll be able to go on line again. We will be back at the end of this month.
Cheers and keep warm and smiling!
Anne
Wow Anne! You are in for an amazing time in India.
It wil be amazing to go back after such a long time. We look forward to hearing more about your adventures upon your return.
Hey there new visitor here. Excellent post. I think that once we get connected with ourselves first and foremost then we can better assist and help others.
Baker, exactly – and that is just what all of us need to focus on.
I am learning that life is so easy and flowing if only we can connected with ourselves first.