Feeling Burned Out? Energy Tips for Busy Leaders

by Michelle Cederberg, Health and Productivity Expert

Energy Now! Tips for Leaders-on-the-Move: Part I

Ahhh, leadership! It’s a roller coaster ride of success and stress. Every day is fraught with highs and lows that keep you on your toes at a level far beyond “life before leadership.”

Even still, every day you get to work at something you love, inspire your team toward common goals, put out fires, problem solve, maybe even change the world. To really amp up your effectiveness against that mounting to-do list you better arm yourself with energy-generating strategies. But it’s not like you haven’t got other things to do right?

Your goal is simple then: conquer in your career by taking small self-care steps every day in key energy-generating areas of your life. Below I share some effective energy tips in three categories for leaders-on-the-move. These tips represent vital mind, body and spirit activities that will help you squeeze every bit of drive and productivity out of your work and life.

Move It or Lose It

Move your body regularly or lose your energy quickly. Exercise energizes, and I guarantee that once you make it a regular part of your day, even in small increments, excuses like lack of time, energy or motivation will no longer be an issue.

Don’t wait until you’ve got the right amount of time and just enough energy. Just do something. Incorporate at least ten minutes of purposeful physical activity into every day.

At work:

• Schedule walking meetings with members of your team.
• Take the stairs part way instead of the elevator.
• Get off the bus or subway a few stops earlier and walk.
• Park your car a good distance from your office.
• Drive part way to work and cycle the rest of the way.

At home:

• Do crunches on all the commercial breaks while you watch your favorite show.
• Go for a walk after dinner.
• Do jumping jacks as you wait for the kettle to boil.
• If you already walk your dog, add hills.
• Do walking lunges down the hallway.
• Run up the stairs. Chase your kids if you have to.

Exercise less for success! And when you’re talking yourself out of it remember this: Ten minutes of doing is better than the hour you were thinking about doing.

Eat for Energy

With so many lunch meetings and dinners with clients, healthy eating can be a challenge. So if you want better energy, choose to make a few small, smart changes with your eating habits every day. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• If eating out is hard to avoid, pack healthy snacks for between meals.
• When eating out, balance fun and flavor with healthier sides. Compromise! I always have my burger with salad instead of fries. I can enjoy the burger guilt-free and save 500+ calories by not eating fries.
• Down-size your full-whip super large mocha to a medium non-fat latte with chocolate sprinkles.
• Cut your portion sizes just a bit.
• Eat breakfast – even just a few days of the week.
• Be cautious of the little nibbles you sneak here and there.
• Choose healthy late night snacks.
• Skip the vending machine as a food source. *Hint: Balanced meals don’t sit behind glass for weeks.
• Add in fruits and veggies.
• Trim the fat.

Regular, healthful eating helps you think clearly through the day, keeps energy levels up and even assists with weight management and health issues.

Stay Hydrated … Seriously!

Why is water so darn important? Did you know your body is made up of approximately 50 percent of the stuff?

Your body needs fluids to help with the digestion, absorption and transport of nutrients as well as elimination of waste products. Fluids also act as a coolant for maintaining body temperature and lubricating joints, eyes and air passages.

If you consider that 75 percent of North Americans are chronically dehydrated, then the simple act of drinking more water will make a big, big difference to your energy. Water you saying? Drink up!

I’ll be back soon with some more tips on how to easily build energy-boosting activities into your crazy day. Until then, remember to move, eat and drink well!

(published June 26, 2012)

Michelle Cederberg is a Certified Speaking Professional, Co-Active Life Coach, Health Expert and Author. With a Masters in Kinesiology, a BA in Psychology, and a specialization in Health and Exercise Psychology, Michelle combines mind, body, and practicality to inspire change! She speaks with humour and passion, and encourages her audiences to put their own health and well being back on their priority lists with a small steps approach that leaves them believing they can. These energy tips are excerpted from her new book, Energy Now! Small Steps to an Energetic Life. Learn more at www.worklifeenergy.com.