Most people can tell you they feel exhausted.
But far fewer people can tell you exactly why.
We often move through our days on autopilot—answering messages, handling responsibilities, helping everyone else, trying to stay caught up—and by the end of the day, we just know one thing:
“I’m drained.”
But drained by what?
That’s where this week’s practice comes in.
The Energy Audit
Let's do a simple but surprisingly powerful tool called an Energy Audit.
The goal isn’t productivity.
It’s awareness.
Because sometimes the things we assume are “small” are quietly taking the most from us.
And sometimes the things that restore us are so simple, we overlook them.
A quick walk.
A good conversation.
Ten quiet minutes.
Finishing one task instead of thinking about ten.
When we start paying attention, patterns appear.
And patterns create power.
Why This Matters
Many people feel like they are at the mercy of their mood, stress, or burnout.
“I’m just tired.”
“I don’t know why I feel off.”
“I have no energy left.”
But often, energy isn’t random.
It’s connected to how we’re living.
Research on stress and emotional regulation shows that self-monitoring increases behavior change. When we track patterns—whether it’s mood, habits, thoughts, or energy—we become more likely to make intentional shifts.
Awareness creates options.
Your 3-Day Energy Audit
For the next 3 days, your job is simple:
Pay attention.
Not perfectly.
Not obsessively.
Just honestly.
Step 1: Write Down What You Do
From morning to night, track your day.
Not just the “important” things.
Everything.
Getting ready
Scrolling your phone
Driving to work
Meetings
Conversations
Cooking
Cleaning
Helping someone
Avoiding something
Resting
Watching TV
Going for a walk
Sometimes the smallest things tell the biggest story.
Step 2: Rate Each Activity
Next to each activity, ask:
How did this affect my energy?
Use this scale:
+2 = Highly energizing
+1 = Energizing
0 = Neutral
-1 = Mildly tiring
-2 = Draining or stressful
There are no wrong answers. Just information.
Step 3: Look for Patterns
After 3 days, step back and ask:
What keeps showing up?
What consistently lifts me?
What quietly drains me?
What do I keep tolerating that is costing me more than I realized?
What helps me feel more like myself?
Bonus question: Is it the task/situation, or the emotions associated with it, that cause the energy level?
This kind of data is powerful.
It shifts us from feeling like victims of our exhaustion…
to becoming agents of change.
Self-awareness creates choice.
Choice creates change.
That’s where healing starts.
