Running On Empty: Saying No To Things That Don't Fuel You

Have you ever taken a road trip and tried to decide whether to stop for gas or push your luck to try to make it a few more miles before filling up, only to discover that you probably should have stopped the first time? Now, of course, you’re panicking because there’s no station in sight. You pray that the car will make it to the next stop. Fortunately, you find a Mobil station and you’re able to fill up at pump two.

You admit to yourself that if you keep taking these risks, you may not always be this lucky... 
Yet somehow, it happens again.
You’re a glutton for punishment.

Some of us live in much the same way. We keep going, constantly giving of ourselves, whether it’s our work, or other endless obligations, without taking time to refuel. 

Like the warning lights on our car dashboards, our bodies remind us that we need to stop and take a moment. Many of us push past the time the indicator light turns on and as a result experience exhaustion, resentment, or burnout. Instead of listening to our bodies, we find ourselves spiraling down into the same unhealthy habits that take us further away from living a balanced life.

Each activity we engage in releases energy, so we need to decide what is worth our time.

Each time you say yes to something, you’re also saying no to something else. 

You always have a choice. 

If you say yes to partying every weekend, it might also mean that you're saying no to spending quality time with your children. If you’re always saying yes to meeting other people’s needs, you’re also saying no to exploring your own interests and hobbies. But when you say yes to nurturing your health and your happiness, it will mean that you’re saying no to things that drain your tank.

The ways in which you choose to spend your time can impact the amount of fuel you keep in your tank

Time truly is currency, and just like money, you need to manage it wisely to keep yourself energized and fulfilled. 

It’s okay to slow down and take time for yourself. Remind yourself of what it truly feels like to breathe. Put your phone away, go outside, thrift shop, purchase some flowers, read a book, bake, relax with your children. Do more things that feed your soul and replenish you.

Be more intentional about how you expend energy, because the one thing you can’t ever get back is time.