By Katy Ripp
In this series, we’ve talked about how clarity comes from naming your values and how power comes from protecting them with boundaries. This month, let’s talk about energy. Because if you’re exhausted all the time, even with color-coded planners and three different kinds of protein powder, you’re not broken. You might just be out of alignment.
It’s Not Just a Busy Schedule. It’s Misaligned Energy.
Burnout doesn’t always look like collapsing on the couch (but I’ve been there!). It often creeps in slowly, manifesting in feelings of resentment, snapping at people, reaching for a sugary treat or zoning out on your phone.
Most of us try to fix this by doing more — more lists, hacks and hustle. But here’s the truth: Hustle can’t fix what misalignment created. Your energy isn’t drained by how much you’re doing. It’s drained by what you’re doing and whether it reflects who you are.
Tiny Leaks, Big Impact
Let’s say one of your core values is creativity, but your entire day is filled with meetings, metrics and fixing problems that don’t inspire you. Or you value freedom, but your calendar looks like a game of Tetris with no room to breathe.
It’s not because you’re weak or ungrateful; your energy is just being spent in ways that don’t reflect your deepest priorities.
Quick Action: Audit Your Energy
Choose one day this week and do a mini energy check-in. Ask yourself:
- When did I feel most me today — lit up, locked in or totally in my zone?
- What moments drained the life out of me, even if they looked “productive” on paper?
- Did I actually honor any of my values today … or did I just bulldoze through my to-do list?
Values Are Your Energy Filter
You don’t need a sabbatical at a cabin in the woods (though I won’t stop you). You just need to start making small shifts. If you value connection, schedule a walk-and-talk with a friend instead of another “quick coffee Zoom.” If you value presence, maybe it’s time to protect your lunch hour like your life depends on it — because it kind of does.
Next month, we’ll talk about how to build a professional life that supports your values and your energy — so you’re not just building something impressive, but something sustainable.
Katy Ripp is a certified coach, business strategist and podcast host of “#ActuallyICan.”
