5 STEPS TO MORE ENERGY

Written By Denise Eaton

Over the course of weeks and months at The Therapy Shed, we see women walk through our doors for massage, reiki, counselling, reflexology, nutrition support and lifestyle resets. Different therapies. Different stories. Different ages and stages of life.

Yet the common denominator is always the same…

Exhaustion.

Not just physically tired - but mentally drained, emotionally stretched and quietly running on empty.

So many of you are giving whatever you have left after caring for your own families to everyone else too. A neighbour who needs help. A friend in crisis. The school WhatsApp group. The extra task at work. Even the neighbour’s dog. You are the dependable one. The capable one. The one who “just sorts it.”

And somewhere in the middle of being everything to everyone, you’ve started to feel like your life is stuck in a bit of a rut. The same routines. The same reactions. The same patterns.

How Did We Get Here?

Many of us have been conditioned - even gently brainwashed - into believing that being busy equals being worthy. That being needed equals being valuable. That saying yes makes us kind.

Over time, we lose focus on ourselves. We become so practised at giving our energy away that we forget it is a finite resource. We forget to fuel it. Protect it. Replenish it.

And without realising, we slip into people pleasing.

What Is People Pleasing?

People pleasing is the habit of prioritising other people’s comfort, approval or happiness over your own needs.

It can look like:

  • Saying yes when you mean no

  • Over-explaining your boundaries

  • Avoiding conflict at all costs

  • Taking responsibility for other people’s emotions

  • Feeling guilty when you rest

We do it for many reasons. To avoid rejection. To feel accepted. To stay safe. To be liked. Often it began in childhood - where being “good” or “helpful” felt like security.

But as adults, this pattern quietly drains us.

If we are constantly giving from an empty cup, we become resentful, depleted and disconnected from ourselves. And then we wonder why we feel stuck.

Protecting Your Energy: Boundaries Matter

Learning to protect your boundaries is not selfish. It is strategic. It allows you to give from overflow instead of obligation.

Here are some practical strategies:

1. Write a Plan for Your Day

If you don’t decide how your day will go, someone else will.

Each morning (or the night before), write down:

  • Your top 3 priorities

  • When you will eat

  • When you will rest

  • When you will move your body

  • One thing just for you

Seeing your day on paper anchors your energy. It creates intention rather than reaction.

2. Plan Your Week - Especially Food

When we don’t plan, we default. And default often means grabbing quick, unhealthy options because we’re tired.

Try this:

  • Choose 4–5 simple dinners for the week

  • Write a shopping list from those meals only

  • Batch cook one soup, stew or protein source

  • Wash and prep vegetables on Sunday

  • Keep easy snacks ready: nuts, boiled eggs, hummus, yoghurt, berries

When your food is planned, your energy is steadier. And when your blood sugar is stable, you’re less emotionally reactive and less likely to overcommit.

3. Master the “Fluffy No”

Not everyone feels comfortable with a sharp, direct no. That’s okay. Boundaries don’t have to be aggressive.

Here are gentle alternatives:

  • “I can’t commit to that right now.”

  • “That doesn’t work for me this week.”

  • “I need to check my schedule and come back to you.”

  • “I’m focusing on a few priorities at the moment.”

  • “I won’t be able to give that the attention it deserves.”

If you need a fallback option:

  • Offer a smaller version: “I can’t help all day, but I can pop in for half an hour.”

  • Delay: “Not this time, but ask me next month.”

  • Redirect: “Have you tried asking…?”

A boundary delivered calmly is powerful. You do not need to justify, over-explain or apologise excessively.

4. Fuel Yourself So You Can Give Better

When you protect your energy, plan intentionally and nourish your body, something shifts.

You become clearer. Calmer. Less reactive. More grounded.

And the beautiful irony? You actually give better. Not because you have to - but because you want to.

The women we see thrive are not the ones who do the most. They are the ones who understand that rest is productive. Planning is empowering. Boundaries are loving.

You are not tired because you are weak.
You are tired because you are strong - and you have been carrying too much for too long.

It may be time to stop giving from what’s left… and start living from what’s restored.

5. The Power of Retreat Days

Sometimes the best reset is a full day away. Our Rest & Reset, More Me Time, Reconnect & Empower, and Nourish & Bloom retreats give women space to breathe, recharge, and restore.

Each retreat combines:

  • Guided meditation to quiet the mind

  • Restorative yoga for gentle movement

  • Grounding breathwork to calm the nervous system

  • Healing sound bath to reset on a cellular level

  • Journalling and cacao ceremonies to open the heart and release feel-good chemicals

  • Chef-prepared healthy lunch in the garden to nourish body and mind

  • Themed workshops giving practical tools for long-term wellbeing

By stepping away, women leave feeling lighter, calmer, energised, and equipped with strategies to thrive in daily life.

Denise Eaton
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