Today I Choose to be Energized – How to be Energized

Energized feels different at 61 than it did at 31. Back then, I could power through late nights with little more than coffee and sheer willpower. Now, I’ve learned that true energy isn’t about pushing harder—it’s about being lit up from the inside.

I feel that most when I’m writing. The moment I sit down with an idea that excites me, my fingers can barely keep up with the flood of words tumbling out of my mind. My body hums, my posture straightens, my chest feels open, almost buzzing. Hours slip by like minutes.

It’s not caffeine, it’s not adrenaline—it’s alignment. I feel charged, alive, in flow.

Of course, the opposite is true too. I’ve felt the drag of energy killers—long days buried in spreadsheets, endless back-to-back Zoom calls where my shoulders creep toward my ears, and I catch myself yawning at 2 p.m. Energy is fickle at this age—it’s no longer bottomless, and I’ve learned I can’t waste it where it doesn’t belong.

What surprised me most is this: at 61, being energized has less to do with stamina and more to do with spark. When I’m doing what I love—whether it’s creating, teaching, or laughing with family—I feel more energized than I ever did in my 20s.

The Truth About Energy After 60

That’s the truth about energy: it’s not just about hours of sleep or cups of coffee. It’s about noticing what fills you up and what drains you, and choosing to put your best energy where it matters most.

Being energized isn’t about having limitless reserves—it’s about learning to light your own spark again and again.

I’ve discovered that energy at this stage has distinct patterns:

• Alignment energy – When you’re doing what you’re meant to do
• Connection energy – From meaningful interactions
• Creation energy – From making something new
• Purpose energy – From work that matters
• Joy energy – From pure delight in the moment

The spreadsheet days? They drain all of these. The writing days? They activate every single one.

How to Be Energized (When Coffee Isn’t Enough)

After decades of trying to manufacture energy through external means, I’ve learned it’s an inside job.

Identify Your Energy Sources

Pay attention to what makes your body hum versus what makes your shoulders creep toward your ears. For me:

Energy creators:

• Writing that matters
• Deep conversations
• Problem-solving that uses creativity
• Teaching someone something valuable
• Morning sunlight on my face
• Laughing until my sides hurt

Energy drainers:

• Spreadsheets without purpose
• Zoom calls that could have been emails
• Small talk that goes nowhere
• Tasks that don’t align with my values
• Saying yes when I mean no
• Pretending to care about things I don’t

The key isn’t avoiding all drainers—that’s impossible. It’s about balancing them with genuine energizers.

Follow Your Body’s Energy Map

At 61, my energy has a different rhythm than at 31. I’ve learned to map it:

• Morning burst (6-10 AM) – Best for creative work, writing flows
• Midday maintenance (10 AM-2 PM) – Good for tasks, calls, administrative work
• Afternoon dip (2-4 PM) – Accept it, plan for it, don’t fight it
• Evening revival (4-7 PM) – Second wind for connection, lighter creative work
• Night wind-down (after 7 PM) – Energy for reading, not producing

When I write during my morning burst, hours disappear. When I force writing at 2 PM, every word is agony. Same task, different energy availability.

Create Energy Through Alignment

Remember that buzzing chest feeling when I write? That’s alignment energy. It happens when:

• Your actions match your values
• Your work uses your natural gifts
• Your effort creates meaning
• Your time investment feels worthwhile

Spreadsheets drain me not because they’re hard, but because they’re misaligned with how my brain wants to work. Writing energizes me because it’s perfectly aligned with who I am.

Protect Your Energy Boundaries

At this age, energy is precious. We can’t afford to leak it everywhere:

• Say no to energy vampires – People who take without giving
• Limit decision fatigue – Automate the small stuff
• Batch similar tasks – Don’t switch contexts constantly
• Guard your peak hours – Reserve them for what matters most
• Exit conversations gracefully – When energy starts draining

Those back-to-back Zoom calls? I’ve learned to build in 15-minute buffers. It’s not about having more time; it’s about having space to reset my energy.

The Physical Reality of Energy at 61

Energy shows up differently in my body now:

• True energy – Chest open, spine straight, eyes bright, hands warm
• False energy – Shoulders tight, jaw clenched, pushing through
• Depleted energy – Heavy limbs, foggy thinking, everything feels hard
• Restored energy – Light feeling, clear mind, possibility everywhere

When I’m writing and truly energized, my whole body participates. Posture improves without trying. Breathing deepens naturally. The physical sensation is unmistakable—that humming, buzzing aliveness.

When I’m forcing energy through spreadsheets, my body rebels. Shoulders creep up, creating tension headaches. Breathing becomes shallow. The 2 PM yawn isn’t tiredness—it’s my body saying “this isn’t it.”

Energy Myths I’ve Abandoned

At 61, I’ve let go of energy beliefs that no longer serve:

Myth: More caffeine equals more energy

Reality: After the third cup, it’s anxiety, not energy. Real energy comes from excitement about what you’re doing.

Myth: Push through when tired

Reality: Pushing through creates depletion debt. Rest when tired, work when energized.

Myth: Energy should be constant

Reality: Energy ebbs and flows. Working with the rhythm multiplies effectiveness.

Myth: Busy equals energized

Reality: Busy often masks energy drain. True energy feels focused, not frantic.

Unconventional Energy Sources

Beyond the usual sleep-exercise-diet advice, I’ve found unexpected energizers:

• Creative constraints – Limitations spark innovative energy
• Teaching others – Sharing knowledge creates reciprocal energy
• Solving puzzles – Mental challenges that engage create flow
• Deep listening – Real conversations energize more than small talk
• Saying no – Each no preserves energy for a better yes
• Completion – Finishing something releases trapped energy

The Spark Versus Stamina Distinction

This is the biggest shift at 61: recognizing that spark matters more than stamina.

Stamina is about endurance—how long you can keep going. At 31, I had stamina for days. I could pull all-nighters, power through, push harder.

Spark is about ignition—what lights you up from inside. At 61, when I find my spark (like writing), I have more genuine energy than any amount of 31-year-old stamina provided.

The difference:

• Stamina depletes with use; spark regenerates through use
• Stamina is finite; spark is renewable
• Stamina is physical; spark is existential
• Stamina is about lasting; spark is about living

Creating Sustainable Energy Practices

Building energy that lasts requires intention:

Daily practices:

• Start with something that excites you
• Match tasks to energy levels
• Take breaks before exhaustion
• End with completion, not depletion
• Celebrate energy wins

Weekly practices:

• Schedule energy-giving activities first
• Batch energy drainers together
• Build in recovery time
• Assess what’s working
• Adjust the next week accordingly

When Energy Won’t Come

Some days, despite everything, energy won’t come. The writing won’t flow. The spark won’t ignite. The body feels heavy.

I’ve learned this isn’t failure—it’s information. Maybe:

• The body needs genuine rest
• The mind needs different input
• The soul needs something you’re not giving it
• The season of life requires gentleness
• The energy is gathering for something bigger

On these days, I don’t force it. I do the minimum required, then rest. Tomorrow’s writing energy depends on today’s wisdom to stop.

Your Energy Invitation

What lights you up from the inside? What makes your body hum, your chest buzz, your hours disappear?

And equally important: What drains you? What makes your shoulders creep up, your jaw clench, your 2 PM yawn arrive?

Energy at this stage isn’t about having more—it’s about spending it wisely. It’s about recognizing that spark beats stamina, alignment beats effort, and choosing where your energy goes is perhaps the most important choice you make each day.

Maybe you feel energized when:

• Creating something with your hands
• Solving complex problems
• Connecting deeply with others
• Moving your body in nature
• Learning something entirely new

Find your version of my writing buzz. Notice what makes time disappear in the best way. Pay attention to when your body hums with aliveness versus when it drags with obligation.

Because at 61 (or any age), being energized isn’t about pushing harder. It’s about finding what lights you up and giving yourself permission to choose that, again and again.

The spreadsheets will always be there. But the spark? That’s worth protecting.