Sustainers and Drainers

Often is life we can find ourselves spending a lot of time doing, and thinking about, things that drain us. Things that gradually (or quickly) run down the batteries in our brains and leave us tired, more emotional, stressed or overwhelmed.

What makes things a little challenging is that we might not be aware of what all these “drainers” actually are. This is where mindfulness can help! Learning to be that little bit more aware of our bodies and emotions through mindfulness can help us spot how our bodies and brains react to different activities; what charges our battery and what drains us. We also build more space, and moments to pause into our days with mindfulness, giving us the opportunities to stop, check in and notice what’s going on in brain and body.

What we find might surprise us! I used to get drawn to watching short social media videos, mostly about dogs, sport or nature, when I felt tired or had a break between appointments. Over time realised that actually they were having the effect of activating my brain in an unhelpful way; leaving me restless, even a little overwhelmed or anxious, and definitely not calmer.

Leaning to pause, notice and reflect after different activities and go to behaviours or pastimes can be a revelation and really useful in forming a tool kit of more battery charging activities.

One such “sustainer” that works for many people is taking in nature; either getting outside, looking or watching through a window, or even imagining or re-visiting a nature scene in our heads. Perhaps give this a try, even if it’s for 1 minute or less and check in on the effect it has on your brain and body.

Some questions I’ve asked myself over the years to help my journey to better understand my sustainers and drainers;

• are my go to “downtime” options really re-charging my battery? Eg does TV really work as a wind down?

• how do I really feel after I’ve spend time on social media, reading news websites or worrying or complaining about things?

• what other things could I try?

• do I feel more peaceful, settled, energised, calm, or brighter somehow after I’ve been doing this?

• what things, activities, places, or people have charged my battery in the past?