As humans, our capacity for feeling deeply is remarkable, but not limitless. We all have a finite reserve of emotional energy that must be recharged when depleted.

The first step in caring for our emotional wellbeing is to notice when our reserves are low.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we came with ‘low emotional battery’ notifications like our smartphones and laptops? Perhaps we do, we just need to know what to look for. Our ‘low battery’ indicators are as unique as we are.

When I get low on emotional energy, I tend to either become curt in conversation or perceive everything as disproportionately hilarious.

What about you? What do you notice when your emotional reserves are depleted?

The second step in caring for our emotional wellbeing is to understand what recharges us, which once again is unique to each person.

I previously shared a few ideas that help me - like going for a walk, baking, journaling, or snuggling with my dog Strudel.

What helps recharge your emotional batteries?

I recommend writing a list of ways that you can reference in those moments of overwhelm and exhaustion. In my experience, I can’t even think of what would help when I’m out of energy, so the list makes it easier to start recharging.

To notice today: What signals does your body give when you have low emotional battery? And what helps you recharge?