• Jessica

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Ways to recharge your mind, body, and soul

Feeling a little rundown and drained?  Need a few ideas on how to recharge your internal batteries?  Here are a few ways to recharge your mind, body, and soul!

“Why didn’t you charge your phone?”  My husband asks me this constantly these days.  It’s not that I don’t charge it regularly, it’s just that I need to use the darn thing All. Day. Long.  It is constantly in use at work, then for personal stuff and this blog after work. It doesn’t get a break until later in the evening.

I was thinking about this the other day and I realized that I’m treating myself the same way.  Sure, I take time out during the day every now and then. Yes, I do my best to live a calm lifestyle.  But, since I tend to be a highly productive person, I also run and run and run during the day until my battery is…low.  

So, maybe it’s time to take some advice from that annoying little “low battery” warning I hear in mind head from time to time and focus on recharging during the day.  If you can relate to this feeling, I’ve come up with a little list of a few ways to get your mental and physical energy back when you’re feeling a bit drained.

Here are a few ideas for recharging your mind, body, and soul:

For Your Mind

Does it ever feel like your thoughts are going a mile a minute?  Or that your brain is so jam-packed with ideas that you can’t seem to untangle them into anything that makes sense?  Here are some ideas to help your poor, overworked brain slow down and give all your thoughts a chance to process.

Journal

Journaling can be SO useful in relaxing and recharging your mind.  How you do it is completely up to you, whether it’s a structured daily record of your life or a simple outpouring of any thoughts that happen to be passing through your mind.  

For me, the second version works better.  I simply sit down and write my thoughts as they happen, with no order or structure at all.

The reason journaling works so well, in my opinion, is that once you put your thoughts to paper, you’ve given them a new place to live.  You no longer have to keep recycling the same ideas, questions, and thoughts, so your mind has a little breathing room.

I recommend getting a good journal or notebook, something that makes you excited to write.  I like these:

Zone out for a while

If you tend to be an overthinker or an “over-doer”, taking some time just to sit and NOT do can seem difficult at first.  But giving your mind a break, with something a little mindless or repetitive, can help you recharge. Take a break and watch a movie, read a book, or work on a craft project.  Even if you find yourself still dwelling on a thought or problem that’s been on your mind, it will give you time for your thoughts to settle a bit and process. Taking a break is a very healthy thing to do, even for doers!

Focus on your breathing

This one is more “in the moment”, but if you’re feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or just a little frazzled, stop what you’re doing and focus on your breathing. I don’t know about you, but when I get stressed, I find myself taking short, shallow breaths.  Taking a minute to stop what I’m doing and just take some deep, calming breaths leaves me almost instantly feeling rebalanced and more in control. It may help you to set a timer for a few minutes or use an app like Breath Ball or Headspace. Take a little time just to breathe.  In and out.  

Practice mindfulness

Sometimes you need to slow down in order to speed up.  Practicing mindfulness is a great way to slow down and recharge your mind.  It not only gives you a chance to stop doing and start noticing what is around you, how you are feeling, and simply observing life, but it can also increase your focus, make you happier, and reduce stress. 

For Your Body 

I try not to let myself get too busy or overwhelmed by life, but it happens.  And when it does, one of the first things to be neglected is taking care of my body.  It usually doesn’t work out very well. (I was sick for 3 whole weeks recently!) If you can relate, here are some simple ways to recharge your body.

Drink water

60% of the human body is water.  Needless to say, water is crucial to your health. It has SO many benefits for our health and wellbeing!  (You can read more about that here.) And it’s such a simple thing to do, but sometimes the simple things are the hardest to remember.  

To remind yourself, try out a measured water bottle like this:

Take a walk

Exercise is also important, but it doesn’t have to mean hours at the gym or regular yoga classes (even though both of those are great things to do).  If you feel like you need to wake up your body a little bit and get the blood flowing, take a quick walk around the block or through your local park.  The movement and fresh air will leave you feeling recharged and re-motivated.

Eat good food

Ever fall into the “I’m starving, but I don’t have time to eat” trap?  Me too. It’s so easy to grab some fast food or chow down on those cookies hiding in the pantry in those moments, but it’s not always the best idea.  Instead, keep healthy and handy options stocked in your kitchen or switch out the burger for some veggies and protein. Your body will thank you for making good food decisions by rewarding you with more energy!

Take a nap

Most of us don’t get enough sleep.  If you do, that’s great! But if you’re feeling a little physically run down, take a nap.  It’s not lazy, I promise! A quick nap can definitely recharge your body and give you more energy. Don’t forget to set an alarm though… *wink*

For Your Soul

Sometimes that need to recharge is a little deeper.  You feel physically okay, but something just feels…off.  When that happens, it may be a little warning bell that you just need a good, internal recharge.  Here are some ideas to help you rebalance.

Spend a little time alone or some time with friends

This one will depend on what truly works for you.

If you’re an introvert like me, spending some time completely alone is a great way to recharge those internal batteries.  There can be a lot of “noise” from the world and interacting with people during the day. For introverts, “peopling” can be an energy drain, so schedule some alone time to recharge. Taking a little time to be alone and simply process will boost your energy.

If you’re more on the extroverted side, though, you may need to do the opposite.  Time alone can leave you feeling dull and restless while being around other people and interacting leaves you feeling energized. If that’s you, schedule in a little social time.  Call up some friends for dinner or a meetup!

Take a nice long shower

Is there anything better than a nice, long, hot shower?  Jump in, lather up, and stay there until the hot water runs out!  You’ll feel much more relaxed and rejuvenated afterward.

Laugh

They say laughter is the best medicine, and I don’t disagree.  Watch something funny, call up an old friend for a chat, or go see a comedy show. Do anything that makes you laugh out loud!

Indulge in something

We all like a treat now and then, don’t we?  Buy your favorite chocolates, treat yourself to a nice dinner, and use the fancy soap.  Indulging isn’t for every day, but it can be a great way to recharge and give yourself a little boost when you need it!

Most importantly, be sure to take time out and do whatever works best for you when you hear your own little “low battery” warning going off

How do you recharge when your batteries are a little low?