Being an entrepreneur can be utterly exhausting. It’s definitely exciting, but it takes a lot of YOU being energetically present to make it work.
You have likely felt like you’ve been pulled in a thousand different directions and it keeps you from showing up how you want and need to for your business.
In this post, you will learn about how your energy plays an important role in how you show up for your business. I’m also sharing nine of my favorite ways to protect and recharge the energy that you have in order to show up powerfully and confidently in your business.
What Does Protecting My Energy Mean?
Everything in the universe is made up of energy. You included. And the energy that you have can create an ebb and flow from moment to moment.
Think of a time when you’ve just felt “off” but you couldn’t quite put your finger on it. That’s an outward sign of a shift in your energy.
Positive energy has momentum and great power. Positive energy is magnetic. And the more positive energy you have, the more it will generate.
But sometimes your energy can get thrown off by a circumstance without your awareness. In order to protect your energy, you must be first aware of it.
Why Is Protecting Your Energy Important?
Protecting your energy is important because everything that you do depends on the energy with which you bring to it. In business, protecting your energy is critical so that you can continue to show up in an authentic and organic way.
Before I knew about protecting my energy, I would get drained from simple tasks or social gatherings because I didn’t have the right practices and boundaries in place to do so.
When that would happen, I wouldn’t have any energy left to do what I needed to do to show up in my business or for my family.
Should I protect my energy?
You absolutely should be protecting your energy, especially as an online entrepreneur. Everyone should be doing this, in my humble opinion, but if you are reading this and you have an online business or are a creative – protecting your energy is essential to the success of your business.
Because, if you don’t prioritize protecting your energy then you’re going to constantly struggle with maintaining the mindset required to show up with energy that is magnetic to your ideal clients.
How Do Empaths Protect Energy?
Do you feel all the feels? Can being around other people leave you feeling like you’ve just exposed all your nerve endings to everyone’s feelings and you don’t know what to do with it?!
You could very likely be an empath. If you are an empath you’re probably well aware of it. It’s kind of hard not to.
Empaths are so much more susceptible to having their energy drained and completely messed with and because of that empaths must be so much more aware of their energy and do what is necessary to protect themselves.
As an empath, you will find that a lot of the practices and tools I mention in the rest of this blog post will be so incredible in helping you protect your energy.
9 Ways to Protect Your Energy as an Online Entrepreneur
So how can you protect your energy as an online entrepreneur? How can you avoid putting your energy at risk? What I’m sharing with you are practices that have both been effective for me (as an empathic online entrepreneur) and are taught by well-known and successful mindset and energy gurus.
Practice Awareness of Your Energy & Mindset
Protecting your energy starts with first being aware of how your energy feels in your body. You won’t be able to protect your energy if you’re not aware of what it feels like physically in your body. You can do this a few different ways.
You can start by practicing mindfulness throughout your day. Take time to notice how you feel when you first wake up, what your thoughts are, and how your body feels (strong, achy, lightweight, etc.).
I would encourage you to journal these things as you encounter them. It doesn’t have to be a lot, but take five minutes to jot down your awareness of your energy.
Another way to practice being aware of your energy is through stillness and meditation. If you’re unfamiliar with meditation practice then you might be hesitant to start – but there are some great simple guided meditation videos on YouTube that you can use to help you get started.
Set Boundaries (With Yourself & Others)
Boundaries are essential in basically all parts of your business and life, but when it comes to energy – it’s a non-negotiable.
You may be wondering what types of boundaries are important to set when it comes to your energy in business. I get it. There’s a lot to unpack. So let’s look at a few of the important ones I think you should focus on.
Boundaries with how much you work:
You are not a machine. You have to shut off at some point. And this doesn’t even mean to rest, but just to enjoy other things in your life outside of your business. I’m guilty of pressing in and grinding harder just because at the time it might seem like the only way to get the results you want, faster. But ultimately, this is the fastest way to burn out. I have to force myself to leave work in my office and not stay up until 2am multiple times a week working on something I just want to finish.
Boundaries with social media:
Y’all – social media is my biggest weakness and is the root of a lot of my energy drain. And if it’s mine, then I’m fairly certain it’s a lot of yours too. The absolutely worst thing you can do for yourself and your energy is to spend hours scrolling through social media (especially under the guise of needing to get “inspiration” or to do “research”).
Don’t do this. Here’s what I suggest instead: limit your social media consumption to the times when you know you need to be on social media to engage with specific people and accounts that you are building relationships with. Avoid aimless scrolling at all costs. And don’t seek out inspiration in moments when you’re feeling uninspired.
Boundaries with other people:
Setting boundaries with the people in your life is SO important to protect your energy. This means people like your friends, family, and acquaintances. These people are important to you in your life which means their thoughts and opinions often weigh heavily on the energy you bring to your business. These relationships are your biggest cheerleaders and want the best for you which also means they are going to want to keep you safe and away from failure. Don’t let these people project their fears onto you. Protect your energy. This sometimes means setting boundaries with what you share with them about your business. Asking them for advice. Or looking to them for approval in your business.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think you should completely keep your business private from your friends and families but – it’s important to understand how much you look to other people (anyone, really) for approval for what to do in your business.
Create Spaces that Nourish Your Soul
Your space can make or break your energetic flow. Create a space that will cultivate positive magnetic energy. It looks different for all of us but here some components to think about. Use lighting, colors, textures, and smells that you love. Take time to do something fun or creative throughout your day or week, because these moments are important to recharge your energy.
Connect with Nature
If you’re like me, you thrive when the sun is shining. Cloudy, rainy, dreary days are good every once in a while but for the most part – you need to be connected to nature. If you spend all day every day sitting at a desk looking at a computer screen then it’s going to completely drain your energy. Take time to go sit in the sun, take a walk on a nature trail, or go barefoot in the grass. These are all simple ways to refuel by connecting with nature.
Choose Your Inner Circle Intentionally
Choose the stakeholders in your life (both professionally and personally) very intentionally. This means you may have to set some hard boundaries. I never said protecting your energy was going to be easy, I know this all too well myself. But once you are able to see how the people around you affect your energy, you will quickly understand how important it is to reserve those spaces for people who are not going to drain you or give you unwanted negative energy.
Stay Away from Energy Vampires
Energy vampires are people who will suck all of your energy from you. Stay away from these people. If you have someone like this in your life, you probably thought of them instantly. This doesn’t mean that you have to cut these people out of your life completely, but you definitely need to have boundaries around these people.
Give Yourself Space to Recharge
We live in a hustle culture. Remember that one time in 2020 when the entire world slowed down because we were forced to? Yeah, as hard as those times were – I miss the days when we were all forced to live in the present. Forced to recharge our minds, bodies, and souls.
Reminder: you need to create space in your schedule to do this to avoid burnout.
Care for Your Nervous System
I’m gonna get a little science-y for a minute here. A huge part of the well-being of your body and mind is your nervous system.
According to an article on Shape.com, our fast-paced lifestyles and hustle culture have caused our nervous systems to almost always exist in “fight or flight” mode. This can impact your energy and the way you are affected by the energy of others. The best way to combat this is to be as grounded and aware as possible.
Here are some easy ways to care for your nervous system:
- drink plenty of water
- practice good sleep habits
- walk barefoot in the grass
- get outside in the sunshine
- spending time in the garden
- meditation
Practice Gratitude
Gratitude leads to more happiness, which can cause increased motivation and ultimately, increase motivation to achieve your goals. Practicing gratitude is a simple daily exercise that can give you an incredible ROI. Take time at the end of each day to write down your gratitude statements for the day.
There are definitely more ways to practice tuning into your own energy and protecting what you have. These are just a few of the ways that I have learned to protect my energy as an online entrepreneur to ensure that I can continue showing up in a way that will make an impact.
Of course, you do not need to try to do all of these practices at once. I suggest picking the one that feels like the best fit for you and implementing it for a week or so before adding in another. You might find that you have a massive energetic shift by just doing a few of these exercises.
Remember, if you aren’t able to show up energetically for your business – you can’t expect anyone else to either.
