This week I sat with three very different leaders.
- The Principal of a Dublin law firm
- A senior leader in global tech
- A mid-level manager in a scale-up
Different roles, different industries. Yet all three described the same thing.
They feel tired. Less mojo. Less va-va-voom than they’d expect after the summer break.
I wasn’t surprised. Two years ago, I felt the exact same way.
Here’s what’s happening. When we spend prolonged periods “switched on”—operating in sympathetic nervous system mode—we raise cortisol levels and run low on adrenaline. We push forward on grit and willpower.
When we stop, our body might physically recover. But emotionally and mentally, it can take longer.
That’s why some leaders come back from holiday still flat.
The truth is, we each have multiple “batteries”: physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual. You choose the labels. They work in different ways, don’t they?
- One can look charged while another is still depleted.
- Or, one can drain another at times. Gerry Hussey has written superbly about this.
- And, conversely, one can compensate for the other at times.
Think about the first of Katie Taylor’s trilogy of fights with Amanda Serrano. She gave everything, they both did, to one of the most critically acclaimed boxing bouts in recent years. It went the full distance.
As the judges finalised their scoring, both boxers looked half dead. A few minutes later, when the split decision result was announced, Katie leapt in the air like an 8-year old on a sugar-rush. Her emotional battery elevated her physical one to another level.
So what can you do? In all three conversations, we landed on four levels of restoration:
- The Big Break
Time off, holidays, weekends away, days in nature. Proper recovery time. That’s not always accessible, so let’s look at the others.
- The Weekly Break
Taking some time to yourself on the weekend (or day off). This can be tricky with other family/friend obligations. But do your best to find a block of time that’s peaceful and restful, no matter how short.
- Daily Habits
Routines that give you “me time” each day. Maybe exercise. Maybe stillness. Maybe creative time. Something that tops you up consistently. - Micro Moments
Small resets during the day: between meetings, walking to get water, pausing before you open the front door. Follow your breath, feel your feet, notice the tensions in your bones or muscles, take a double-inhale then exhale long and slow, let the tension dissolve away.
Think of it like charging your phone:
- Micro moments = a quick boost on the supercharger.
- Daily/Weekend habits = your overnight plug-in.
- Big breaks = a full reset of the system, clear the cookies and wipe the search history for better performance.
Where are you drawing your energy from right now? Which battery needs more attention?
These are the conversations we’re having in TRIPS Tank and with Arena members.
Different leaders, different contexts, but the same human need: sustainable energy to be at their best more consistently.
What about you? Which level of recharge do you need to focus on this week?